Progressive Gifts & Home July 2021

JULY 2021

Bringing Joy Every Day ENESCO LIMITED, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 0EN. UK Customer Services: Telephone: 01228 404022 Email: trade@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services: Telephone: +44 1228 404066 Email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk

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This Month As we go to press on July 2, at last it seems like good times really are back on the agenda! The new health secretary, Sajid Javid, has promised to end Covid restrictions on Monday July 19, so if all goes according to plan, especially for those of us going to Home & Gift in Harrogate (July 18-21) - it will be a long awaited and very welcome line in the sand!

As the first live trade show for 17 months, it’s going to feel wonderful to be able to chat to exhibitors and industry friends as normal, and to enjoy the many social events taking place to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary. (Turn to pages 21-23).

Additionally, another reason to celebrate this month is the return of dedicated greeting card show PG Live, which will be taking place at London’s Business Design Centre on July 27 and 28. With the pandemic accelerating the sale of greeting cards for many gift shops, it’s going to be a ‘must visit’, with new launches at the heart of the show. (Turn to pages 30-31).

And, of course, we couldn’t be more delighted to be celebrating the incredible Greats 2021 finalists who were announced earlier this month! With a record-breaking entry and the standard higher than ever, we fanfare these outstanding retailers on pages 14 and 15.

Elsewhere in this issue, we shine a spotlight on sustainability, a major focus for many companies in the gift industry, regardless of size, who are doing everything they possibly can to help to protect the planet. (Turn to pages 33-35).

And on the trends front, we take a look at what’s new for Autumn/Winter in home fragrancing (turn to pages 41-45); jewellery and fashion accessories (turn to pages 5559) and mugs (turn to pages 49-51), while Helen Cottrill at Enesco reveals what’s leading the way in the collectables and accessories market. (Turn to 37-39).

Additionally, as true Brits who love to discuss the weather, we talked to a selection of gift indies about how the sunshine and showers of late have affected business. (Turn to pages 17-19).

But first, make sure you’re up to speed with all the very latest industry news by turning to pages 5-13.

Enjoy the issue!

Sue

@Prog_Gifts

Inside 5-13

News

14-15 Greats 2021 finalists 17-19 Feedback 21-23 Home & Gift 30-31 PG Live 33-35 Spotlight On... Sustainability

35

37-39 In Profile: Enesco 41-45 Spotlight On... Home Fragrancing 49-51 Spotlight On... Mugs 55-59 Spotlight On... Jewellery & Fashion Accessories 68-69 Best Sellers

57

Above: Sue is shown at Home & Gift in 2019 interviewing Sean Camm of The Hollies in Little Budworth.

Sue Marks, Editor

www.max-publishing.co.uk The home of market leading trade magazines Publishers: Jacqueline Brown, Warren Lomax, Ian Hyder and Rob Willis

The Greats Awards takes place on 23 September 2021 at the The HAC (Honourable Artillery Company) in London. For tickets, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

Sue Marks Editor

Jo Pilcher Ian Hyder Advertisement Manager Publishing Director

suem@max-publishing.co.uk

jop@max-publishing.co.uk

ianh@max-publishing.co.uk

Subscribe to Progressive Gifts from £60 (UK) to £90 (International) You can organise this quickly and easily online at our secure site: www.max-subscriptions.net For assistance, please email subscriptions@max-publishing.co.uk ISSN 2515-7523

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP. Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 www.progressivegifts.co.uk Copyright 2021. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Greats Finalists Announced A Record-Breaking Entry Despite a year of lockdowns and shop closures, there was an outstanding, record-breaking response to The Greats Awards 2021, with this year’s outstanding finalists announced on pages 14 and 15. The winners will be revealed at an exciting, glamorous awards afternoon event, which will be taking place live at the historic Honourable Artillery Club (HAC) in London on Thursday September 23.

“Entrants and nominees exceeded expectations, with the pandemic challenging all retailers to really up their game, especially while the doors were closed,” commented PG&H/GiftandHome.net’s editor Sue Marks.

“Gift shop owners magnificently rose to the challenge, showing their resilience and their

calendar - contact event organiser Clare Hollick for tickets at Createvents: tel: 01183 340085 e: clare@createvents.co.uk or visit Max-Tickets.net.

To date, the impressive line-up of Greats sponsors include (in alphabetical order): Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Joe Davies; Life Charms: Progressive Gifts & Home; Premier Decorations; Progressive Greetings Live; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair; Wrendale Designs and The Giftware Association.

For remaining sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jo Pilcher on 020 3764 1694 e: jop@max-publishing.co.uk; for all Greats enquiries, please contact Sue Marks on 020 8361 2055 or e: suem@max-publishing.co.uk. For more details, visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk Left: London’s Honourable Artillery Club (HAC).

Below: The team at Highworth Emporium, winner of last year’s Best Retailer Initiative award.

resourcefulness in finding ways to go on trading successfully. The bar has been set very high this year, and every one of our finalists excelled in their category.”

Added Sue: “It is also wonderful to be able to confidently confirm that The Greats Awards will be live this year, with the opportunity for the whole gifts and home industry to get together and clink glasses to toast the winners in person and to network!”

To be a part of The Greats Awards - a very special highlight on the gift industry’s

Firebox.com Acquired By MH direkt Online gift retailer Firebox.com, among the first UK e-commerce success stories, and best known for its quirky, giftable products - that include Unicorn Tears Gin, the Mystery Box, CrapWrap and Mushions - has been acquired by Austrian e-commerce service provider MH direkt for an undisclosed sum.

As a one-stop provider for the e-commerce sector, MH direkt currently works with several online retailers, and also owns European gift sites Radbag, Troppotogo and CadeauxFolies, seeing the acquisition of Firebox as an important milestone in its growth strategy.

“Both shops will be operated separately, while working closely together in terms of marketing and product development,” confirms Philipp Schindler’s ceo of MH direkt. “There are a lot of synergies between the brands and we see Firebox as an excellent addition to our portfolio.”

Firebox has served over 5 million customers to date and has become a platform for novelty gift items outside the mainstream.

Industry

NEWS G7 Gift Hampers

Sisters and co-owners of newbie gift retailer (and Greats finalist) The St Ives Co. - Ainslie Fowler, Tegen Mackay and Safi Mackie were thrilled to receive a surprise call from the Cabinet Office earlier this year, inviting them to supply gift hampers featuring Cornish goodies for each of the world leaders at the recent G7 Summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. As a result, delegates received miniature toiletries featuring hand soap, shower gel and body balm, as well as shampoo and conditioner.

“It was such an honour to be a part of it,” co-owner Ainslie Fowler told PG&H. “Our vision for The St. Ives Co. is to allow visitors to take a bit of Cornwall back home with them which is what the world leaders did.”

Above: A typical Cornish gift hamper sold by The St. Ives Co. gift shop.

Eastbourne Beckons For Sussex Gift Store Among the independent gift store owners adding to their retail portfolio are Greg Rose and John Dale, co-owners of Maybugs in Hailsham, East Sussex (which is a finalist in The Greats 2021). Pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans to open a second, much larger gift store in Eastbourne at the end of July, they will be taking over all three floors of the former Laura Ashley site which is located in the centre of town.

"We've been working on this in secret for months,” states Greg. “Covid delayed our expansion plans, but not even that was going to stop us. We have so many wonderful customers that come from Eastbourne to shop with us in Hailsham, or order online via our website, that it was a natural move for us to open a second store here.”

Adds John: “The ground floor is more than double the size of our Hailsham branch, which has enabled us to source lots of new, brands, and we have something special planned for the first and second floors which will be opening next Spring.”

Below: Co-owners Greg Rose and John Dale outside Maybugs in Hailsham.

Left: Firebox.com has been acquired by MH direkt.

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COMING SOON!

AUTUMN 2021

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Below: Visitors browsing the aisles at 2019’s Home & Gift.

Home & Gift Part Of Government Pilot Scheme No Restrictions At The Show Confirms Clarion As exhibitors and retailers get ready for both Home & Gift and the Manchester Furniture Show in Harrogate (July 18-21), detailed discussions have taken place with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Public Health Bodies and the Harrogate Convention Centre, with both shows selected to be part of a limited number of pilot events in the third phase of the Government Events Research Programme (ERP).

Under the ERP pilot conditions, there will be no restrictions on visitor numbers or social distancing requirements on any day of the event.

All attendees will be required to certify that either they have had two vaccinations at least two weeks prior to attending, or a negative NHS Lateral Flow Test at least 48 hours before attending. The consent required from all participants to opt into ERP and the NHS’ Test and Trace is being sent to all registered buyers and exhibitors individually.

“With the backing of the government, public health bodies and our key customers, we can see that the appetite and enthusiasm are there for an in-person buying and selling event,” states show director, Russell Rule. “There is great excitement from both exhibitors and

NEWS Smelling Sweet With a focus on beauty and wellbeing, Katie Loxton has introduced brandnew, UK made vegan-friendly hand creams with fragrances such as Sweet Almond and Vanilla Flower.

Right: New hand creams from Katie Loxton.

visitors to reconnect in Harrogate to celebrate our 60th Anniversary!”

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston commented: “I’m delighted we are able to include the Home & Gift Show 2021 at full capacity as part of our ground breaking Events Research Programme. This will continue to trial the use of the NHS app as a means to show you’re Covid safe.”

The show will be taking place across the Harrogate Convention Centre and the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate. Registration is open. Visit homeandgift.co.uk (See Celebrating 60 Years on pages 21-23).

Museum Collection Saved

Above: The new Museum Collection from CD Heritage.

Industry

Ceramic Design Heritage has acquired the Museum Collection brand, assets and artwork, rescuing the 25-year-old brand from extinction.

The range is already in production and available for delivery.

“The addition of the Museum Collection brand, and vast library of designs that comes with it, enables us to give an off the shelf historic product offering to our customers,” explains Paul Travis, founder and sales & marketing director of Ceramic Design (CD) Heritage. “The product range will be manufactured in our Stoke on Trent factory offering low minimums and rapid deliveries.”

Rex London’s New EU Hub Following on from Brexit in January, and the teething problems that came with it, Rex London has established a distribution centre in Belgium to better serve its customers in the EU, without customs delays or additional costs.

Customers in the EU can continue to place their orders with Rex London, with all orders being imported into the EU by their new Belgian company, Rex London BV, which is wholly owned and managed by the UK company.

With international markets identified as the key growth areas for the business, the new chapter focuses the company’s resources on building and sustaining its international presence.

Current delivery forecasts estimate a total transit time of up to two weeks for most EU orders, with the company investigating further measures to reduce the time period.

Above: Rex London has established a distribution centre in Belgium.

St Eval Makes Queen’s Award History

Sales Soar At Dunelm

Cornish candle manufacturer St. Eval has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, making this the first ever Queen’s Award for a candle manufacturer, and representing the highest accolade for business success and sustainability. The Award recognises and celebrates St. Eval’s outstanding commitment and achievement in sustainability, with the company one of only 17 award winners in the Sustainable Development category.

St Eval’s ceo Ian Greaves commented that a key element to the company’s success has been the people at the heart of the business from protecting wildlife on site, and championing plastic-free packaging, to helping customers understand the benefits of sustainable production.

“A manufacturing company, whatever its location, can thrive and grow in a sustainable way,” states Ian. “We are determined to set the standard for actions to preserve and nurture the natural world around us.” (See Protecting The Planet on pages 33-35).

Home and housewares retailer Dunelm whose giftware suppliers include Candlelight - saw total sales increase by 59% for the first seven weeks of its fourth quarter (commencing March 28 2021). The retailer said sales growth had been ‘very strong’, with the company performing significantly ahead of the market.

Alongside the company’s strong digital channels, other factors driving sales included click and collect, a pent-up consumer demand during the store closure period, and a buoyant homewares market.

Unseasonably cold Spring weather was also cited as a factor.

Right: St Eval has won a Queen’s Award for its commitment to sustainability.

Above: Dunelm has seen strong sales growth.

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The ORIGINAL and the BEST! 18 NEW DESIGNS!

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What’s On The Cards At PG Live Dedicated greeting card show readies to welcome visitors Thousands of new designs will be launched at PG Live which opens its doors on Tuesday July 27 and Wednesday July 28 at London’s Business Design Centre.

“We’re on the countdown and the excitement is really starting to build,” enthused Warren Lomax,

co-owner of Max Exhibitions which owns and organises the dedicated card show.

“After 17 months without trade shows, PG Live will be a wonderful opportunity for the greeting card community to get back together.

I’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak

preview at what exhibitors are planning to launch and it’s impressive!”

As with previous years, ‘meeters and greeters’ will be dressed in striking, colourful dresses made out of card and wrap samples that have been sent in by exhibitors, with specialist board company Fedrigoni dressing the lunchroom. Hallmark meanwhile, is working with designer Kate Smith on the tote bags that will be given to visitors on arrival.

Returning to the show, and setting just the right musical tone, will be saxophonist Graeme Airth of Curiously Killed The Cat, who will be providing both a musical welcome to visitors as well as playing in the lunch room during the break (sponsored by Skylight Media).

A delicious lunch will be free to exhibitors and visitors on both days of the show, along with free teas and coffees throughout the event.

Plus, everyone is invited to a fantastic opening night party on Tuesday July 27. Visit www.progressivegreetingslive.com (See A Cardie Reunion on pages 30-31.

Above: PG Live will be opening its doors to visitors this month.

Father’s Day Boost For Gift Indies According to a report from GlobalData, some 70.4% of Father’s Day shoppers had planned to shop in store for the occasion, with gift independents reporting that sales were buoyant.

“We had a really busy week, with Father's Day sales both in our stores and online,” confirmed Jon May, co-owner of Mooch Gifts & Home in Bewdley and Stourport on Severn. “Our best-selling gift was definitely The Dog Father mug from Sweet William, closely followed by the cheeky range of soaps from the folks at Go La La.” Bradley Trevylan, owner of Raven Lifestyle stores in Tavistock and Totnes, concurred. “We had a lot of Father’s Day shoppers in. Our bestselling men’s gift was our Astronaut summer globe. We find novelty tends to do well for men’s gifting.”

In Colchester, Bill Nettelfield, owner of Bill & Bert’s, also reported a strong event, with gin making kits from Swash among the best sellers. “We also sold lots of glassware from Selbrae, as well as pork scratchings from Snaffling Pig and chutneys from Cartwright & Butler.”

At Joco Interiors in Nuneaton, owner Jo Williams set up a dedicated Father’s Day display and promoted items via Facebook lives, “One of the most popular items this year were Dartington Crystal tumblers, tying in with favourite sports and hobbies.”

Maybugs in Hailsham expanded the shop’s core men's giftware section to include more dad related items. “However, Father's Day specific trade was slow,” said co-owner Greg Rose. That said, the Thistle and Black Pepper grooming collection from Scottish Fine Soaps proved to be a hit.”

Above: The eye-catching Father’s Day window at Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley.

New EU VAT Rules Changes in EU VAT have come into effect this month affecting all businesses, to include suppliers and retailers in the gift and home industry, selling products direct to consumers in EU countries. All orders under £150, supplied to customers in EU countries, now have to charge VAT at the correct VAT rate for the country in which the package is delivered.

The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has been pro-active in highlighting the need for support to central Government at BEIS, HMRC and the Department of International Trade (DIT), representing an estimated 23,000 small and micro-businesses across the country.

Left: New VAT charges are in place for UK goods supplied to EU countries.

Industry

NEWS Frida Kahlo Range Expands

The Frida Kahlo licensing programme is continuing to grow, to include a recent partnership renewal with gift supplier Sass & Belle. The company is launching new products across gifts, accessories, ceramics kitchen and gardening, with appeal to a wide range of consumers to include a younger age group.

“The collection has grown from a handful of products to around 30 skus, with many more ceramics launching in the coming months,” confirms Sass & Belle’s marketing manager Daisy Coombes.

Above: Among the new ceramics in Sass & Belle’s Frida Kahlo range.

Coffee Morning The Giftware Association is holding virtual informal Gift Stop ‘drop in’ coffee mornings on alternate Fridays between 11am-12 noon.

“It’s the giftware industry’s opportunity to engage with our community, as well as posing questions to an ever-changing panel of experts,” explains the Association’s Chris Workman, who hosts the event.

Right: Virtual GA coffee mornings take place twice a month.

Brocante Opens Fifth Store With staycationing the name of the game this summer, David Lorimer and Keiron Cockley, who currently co-own four gift shops in Cornwall Mevagissey, St Ives and Fowey, where they have two stores - have opened a fifth retail outlet in Charlestown to capture the summer trade.

“We feel really positive about the year going forward, so much so that we have taken on an old Methodist chapel which is very exciting,” comments David.

In addition, David has taken on the distributorship of David Fussenegger blankets for the UK and Eire. “It’s a brand we have stocked for a long time and the previous distributors were giving it up, so I decided to take it on,” David explained.

Left: David and Keiron outside the Methodist church in Charlestown that has been transformed into a fifth Brocante store.

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Industry

Fashion Forward Moda Co-Locates With Autumn Fair With its doors set to re-open in September at the NEC for the first time in 18 months, Autumn Fair, with its focus on newness, will be the largest ‘must visit’ event for the Autumn buying season, crossing the home, gift, fashion, design and source sectors.

With fashion an important part of the mix for many gift retailers and lifestyle stores, the show will be colocated with Moda - one of the UK’s longest standing fashion trade shows - for the first time.

In line with Autumn Fair, Moda will be opening its doors on September 5-8, affording buyers an extra day, and featuring a line-up of exclusive and new brands which include Fly London, Hukka Design, Jayley Collection and Godske, along with a headline partnership with the British Footwear Association (BFA).

“Footwear, fashion, and apparel have spearheaded the strong growth seen in UK retail the past two months with April up 69% according to the Office of National Statistics, so we’re delighted that Moda will form part of a wider fashion

NEWS Little Dobbies Open In London

Following on from a growing demand to shop local, and the success of Little Dobbies in Bristol and Edinburgh, Dobbies has opened two small format Little Dobbies this summer in London’s Chiswick High Road and Westbourne Grove.

Gifts and seasonal products will complement a curated range of houseplants and sustainable garden products. Christmas items will include decorations, wreathes and hampers.

Below: Among the houseplants at Little Dobbies.

destination offering access to exclusive brands and the latest collections, a greater variety of products, inspiring trends and crossover buying opportunities,” says Moda’s event director Simon Lau. The show will showcase thousands of trend-forward collections across fashion, footwear, jewellery, and accessories, delivering key crossover buying opportunities.

Visit www.moda-uk.co.uk Above and left: Luna and Jayley are among the

#SBS Small Business Is Back Autumn Fair has again partnered with Theo Paphitis’ #SBS Small Business Sunday to bring back the #SBS Pavilion to Autumn Fair, showcasing unique products from ambitious start-ups and small businesses.

Winners of the 2021 competition, across the home, gift and beauty sectors are: Arcform; Leo Charley & Me; Bring A Book to Life; Rose-May; Alexia Claire and KIND2.

The show will also be welcoming 2020's postponed #SBS Small Business Sunday winners to join a super-size #SBS Pavilion, totalling 15 winners who have each received a free exhibition stand. "#SBS Small Business Sunday is all about giving small businesses and entrepreneurs opportunities and the chance to network and thrive,” explains entrepreneur and small business champion Theo Paphitis. “Our long-standing partnership with Autumn Fair is perfect for our community and offers these opportunities in bucket loads. The #SBS Pavilion will be the biggest yet and the #SBS winners will be an asset to the show." Visit www.autumnfair.com

Would You Credit It With customer support at the top of the company’s agenda, Joe Davies has taken one of their best-selling brands, snoozies!, and made the whole collection available with 90 days credit from the date of delivery. All orders placed by July 31 will qualify for the 90 day terms.

Below: snoozies! and Pairables from Joe Davies.

Above: A striking lamp from Arcform, one of the 2021 #SBS winners.

Spring & Autumn Fair’s Online Marketplace Following its launch on May 17, the new Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace - a global digital trading arena enabling trusted brands and vetted buyers to trade all year round - got off to a cracking start, featuring 50 brands that include Rex London, Sass & Belle and Lisa Angel. There are currently 4,500 products, with initial transactions taking place within 48 hours of going live.

Sectors include gifts, home décor, jewellery, fashion accessories, beauty, stationery and toys, with other brands currently featured including Chalk UK, Powder, Kikkerland, The English Soap Company and Keel Toys.

“What’s really important to us is to launch our Online Marketplace sustainably - to grow and build it with the buyers and the brands,” explains Karin Hausmann, project and digital marketing director of the Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace. “We therefore selected 50 exhibitors for the launch, making sure that there were big ranges across gifts, jewellery, accessories, homewares and kitchenware. A further 50 brands will be going online in the next few weeks and new brands are signing up daily. We are also very excited to see such a big focus on sustainable products.”

Visit www.autumnfair.com/ onlinemarketplace

One-To-One Sourcing Already a huge success for over five years at its partner show in Las Vegas, Autumn Fair is bringing the Curated Meetings service to the UK - with a focus on gifts - introducing pre-qualified, vetted premium buyers, who are actively sourcing, to relevant, quality suppliers.

“All meetings are double opt-in, so both buyers and vendors must accept, ensuring maximum relevance and engagement,” explains Maleha Khan, product manager of Autumn Fair Curated Meetings, adding: “spaces are limited and in demand.”

Above: Curated Meetings will be a focus at Autumn Fair.

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Live Format For Top Drawer Some 82% Of Retailers Surveyed Will Attend Top Drawer will be back as a live event this September, with the A/W edition taking place from September 12-14 at Olympia. Organisers Clarion Events extensively surveyed its leading retail buyers and interior designers, with 82% confirming that they intended to attend.

“Over the past 12 months, we remained committed to providing our network of buyers and brands with opportunities to connect, be inspired, and trade,” commented portfolio director Zoë Bonser.

“We saw some amazing success stories through our digital iterations of the show.

However, for the full experience, we know how important it is for buyers to see, try and feel products in person too. In terms of sourcing, networking and discovery, there’s a lot of exciting work happening behind the scenes to revolutionise these experiences for our audience, and we can’t wait for our community to be reunited for this exhilarating new chapter for Top Drawer and retail.”

Industry

NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF l Jo Barber, owner of

No, 14 Ampthill (right) in Bedfordshire, recently celebrated the shop’s 10th anniversary. l Gift shop Loveone in

Zoe added: “We will continue to work in partnership with the Association of Events Organisers (the AEO), which is liaising directly with the government, to ensure the safest and most successful event for our community.”

The A/W21 edition of Top Drawer will include the full range of show sectors across gifting, interiors, greetings & stationery, fashion, children’s products, handmade craft, and giftable food & drink.

Visit www.topdrawer.co.uk Above: Top Drawer will be back live at London’s Olympia this September.

Left: Portfolio director Zoe Bonser.

CD Card Company Presses Replay Coming as music to the ears to its retail customers, The CD Card Company has pressed the replay button following the news that longstanding music distribution company Arabesque, which was the distributor for The CD Card Company’s products, went into liquidation several months ago. The company has relaunched under its own steam with an expanded range of products which builds on the success it has enjoyed with its year-based ranges.

Chris Leaning, part of the Arabesque team for 38 years, and who has headed up The CD Company since it started over 20 years ago, is now the business’ majority shareholder.

“It was extremely sad to see Arabesque go after almost 50 years as a distributor of, initially music, and then cards and gifts,” commented Chris. “The pandemic has been ruthless in its effect on businesses and Arabesque had for some time been carrying the weight of heavy overheads, having been a huge record and then CD distributor in the '70s, '80s and '90s,” Chris explained.

Since taking the helm, Chris has streamlined the business, with an expansion of the product portfolio, including incorporating a video streamed element as well as music downloads.

Ipswich, and Florence & Amelia’s gift and coffee shop in Stalybridge, were two of five independent retailers shortlisted in The Small Awards’ High Street Hero category.

Right: Loveone in Ipswich.

l Parlane, which

recently rebranded to Parlane Living, has adapted its showroom in Bourton-on-the Water in Gloucestershire to have the look and feel of a trade stand. The larger space is shared with Light & Living, Parlane’s partner brand.

Right: Vases from Parlane Living.

l Wentworth Wooden Puzzles has seen a massive jump in young people searching for jigsaw puzzles online, with the company’s sales in 2020, in the 18 to 24-year-old age group, up more than five times on the previous year. l Two new handmade

facial bars - Rose Clay and Charcoal - are the latest additions to The Kentish Soap Company’s range of ethical, sustainable soap, shampoo bars and gifts, which include candles as well as bath and body products.

Right: Rose Clay and Charcoal.

l Award winning British indie jewellery brand

Scream Pretty recently launched in America. The brand was successfully launched in Australia in 2019.

Right: The CD Company’s music download cards.

PEOPLE

Anyday Collection To tie in with the re-opening of their stores on April 12, John Lewis & Partners launched a new, competitively priced, own brand collection called Anyday offering 2,400 products and spanning eight key areas of the home: the home office, living room, dining room, bedroom, nursery, kitchen and outdoor.

Left: A ribbed mug design in the Anyday collection.

BCTF Sold To Kerrison Following the cancellation of two consecutive editions of the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) in 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic, organisers PSM have sold the show to Kerrison Exhibitions.

Previous owner and show director, Margeret Bunn, will continue to work on the fair as a consultant. Visit www.bctf.co.uk

l Two new members have joined

The Giftware Association’s national committee: Alex Ryan (right), founder of Marketing 101, formerly with Paladone, and Therese Oertenblad (below right), founder of the Small Business Collaborative, previously with NPW. l Emma Holmes - previously

one of the creative directors at Wild + Wolf - has joined Chronicle Books as head of brand for Ridley’s Games.

FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

13

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The Greats Awards 2021: Finalists

Congratulations To

The Greats 2021

Finalists!

After a nail biting few weeks, at last, the fantastic Greats 2021 retailer finalists have been confirmed!

The winners of the retail categories, as well as the Best Service to the Independent Retailer and Best Gift Supplier Marketing categories, (finalists to be announced shortly), plus the Honorary Achievement winner, will be revealed at a live, glittering lunch and afternoon event to be held on Thursday September 23 at the historic Honourable Artillery Club (HAC) in London's trendy Shoreditch.

Turn to page 5 to find out how you can be part of the most spectacular date on the industry’s calendar.

(All finalists are listed in alphabetical order)

Retail Employee Of The Year 2021 Lindsay Freeman, senior sales assistant, Cornucopia, Worcester l Kirsty Hammond, manager, No.14 Ampthill l Alex Kirkham, manager, The Barn at The Hollies, Little Budworth l Sarah Laurence, manager, MiMi, Hartley Wintney l Jo Pepper, stock control, Lister Interiors, Chester, Llandudno and Shrewsbury l Paula Zielinska, assistant manager, Highworth Emporium, Highworth l

Independent Retailer of the Year - Scotland Bonkers, Edinburgh and St Andrews The Herbary, Troon l JP Pozzi/Bijou, Buckie and Elgin l Old School Beauly, Beauly l Original Artists, Gourock l Spirito, Glasgow l l

Independent Retailer of the Year - North and Northern Ireland Doodle & Boom, Bangor Flamingo Gifts, Kendal l The Pier Gifts & Home, Blackpool l Robert & Ruby, Helmsley l Sophie Likes, Harrogate l Within Reason, Sheffield l l

Independent Retailer of the Year - South West Jo Amor, Tiverton Highworth Emporium, Highworth l The Inner Yard, Devizes l Kondi Gifts, Bristol l Out Of The Blue, Totnes l Papilio at Heritage, Bristol l l

Independent Retailer of the Year - East Anglia Amore and Dzo Dzo, Woodbridge Daisy Lanes, Rayleigh l Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea l Lovely Libby’s & Olive Branch, Billericay, Brentwood and Rayleigh l LoveOne, Ipswich l Ruby and the Angel and Ruby and the Angel ECO, Debenham l

Independent Retailer of the Year - Midlands & Wales Cornucopia, Worcester Daisy Chain, Stratford upon Avon l Maddison, Harborne l Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley & Stourport on Severn l Nest, Broughton Abbey and Thurlaston Garden Centre and Tea Room l Penelope Primrose, Builth Wells l l

l

Independent Retailer of the Year - London l l

14

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

The Indigo Tree, Crystal Palace and Streatham InSpitalfields, Spitalfields

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The Greats Awards 2021: Finalists

Jumping Bean, Beckenham and Honor Oak Mooch, Ealing (3 stores) l Wishlist, Raynes Park l l

Independent Retailer of the Year - Home Counties, South & South East Alligator Pear, Tadworth Lily’s Attic, Witney l Lulu Loves Home, Stubbington l Moda, Folkestone l No 14 Ampthill, Ampthill l WOW, Hythe l l

Best Newcomer - Midlands, North and Scotland Henry & Co, Ormskirk Jessica Hogarth Shop, Robin Hood’s Bay l Inger & Rae, Harrogate l Keepsakes Scotland, Inverness, Loch Lomond and Pitlochry l The Little Christmas Shop, Ironbridge l Nutshell, Stirling l l

Best Lifestyle or Homewares Retailer of Gifts Angela Reed, Cambridge and Saffron Walden l Graham & Green, Bath, Bayswater, Notting Hill and Primrose Hill l Josie’s Interiors, Bideford l Lister Interiors, Chester, Llandudno and Shrewsbury l Perfectly Lovely Interiors, Taunton l The Rounded House, Oundle l

Best Gift Retailer of Jewellery & Fashion Accessories The Bottom Drawer, Portadown Cilla and Camilla, Beaminster l Natural Edge, Leigh-On-Sea l Mercado, Hampton Court l MiMi, Hartley Wintney l One Forty, Cranleigh l l

Best Garden Centre Retailer of Gifts Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston Blue Diamond Group l Garsons, Esher and Titchfield l Longacres Garden Centre Group l Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Sidcup l Yarnton Home and Garden, Yarnton l l

Best Newcomer - South & Wales The Bean Hive, Kettering and The Bean Hive By The Sea, Falmouth l Frankly, Bristol l Gifts of Wales, Welshpool l Just Love Studio, Hook l Maybugs, Hailsham l The St Ives Co, St Ives l

Best Museum or Visitor Attraction Gift Shop British Museum, London Hever Castle, Hever l Longleat Safari Park, Longleat l Milestones Living History Museum, Basingstoke l Pensthorpe Wild Fowl Trust, Pensthorpe l Royal Museums, Greenwich l l

Best Specialist Multiple Gift Retailer Brocante (5 shops) Cilla and Camilla (4 shops) l Lark London (7 shops) l Mooch (5 shops) l Time and Tide (7 shops) l Vinegar Hill (10 shops) l l

Best In Store or Window Display Arrowsmiths, Broadstairs Casa Fina, Salisbury l Dear Grace, Colchester l In Heaven at Home, Market Harborough l Omnipresent Gift Shop, Kinver l Robert & Ruby, Helmsley l l

Best Department Store Barkers and Barkers Home, Northallerton Fenwick l John Lewis & Partners l Morleys Group l Nicholls, Abergavenny, Brecon, Brecon Country, Crickhowell l Roys of Wroxham, Wroxham l l

Best Non-Specialist Retailer Of Gifts Bert’s Homestore, Brighton, Worthing and Hove Bury Lane Farm Shop, Royston l Dunelm l Loch Levens Larder, Kinross l Oliver Bonas l Priory Farm Shop & Gift Barn, Nutfield l l

Best Retailer Initiative The Celtic Company, Welshpool, for its video appeal to the Welsh government l Highworth Emporium, Highworth, for its Freebie Friday initiative l Lark London for its Pick and Go campaign l Lulu Loves Home, Stubbington, for its Rainbow Windows of Hope campaign l Magpie’s Nest, Stalybridge, for its Box of Happiness programme l Mooch Gifts & Home, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn, for Mooch Live l

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

15

Rebecca Pitcher MADE IN BRITAIN

CUSHIONS | KITCHEN LINENS | CHINA | CANDLES | CARDS & WRAP

exhibiting at HOME & GIFT BUYERS FESTIVAL DP1 - STAND D62

www.rebeccapitcher.co.uk rebeccapitcheryorkshire

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06/07/2021 11:20

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Inset: It’s been a Spring/summer of sunshine and showers.

Feedback

Come Rain, Come Shine After one of the wettest May’s on record, flaming June saw soaring temperatures.

However, heavy rain was back mid month putting a bit of a damper on things.

PG&H asked a selection of gift retailers how the weather’s highs and lows have been affecting business.

Café Culture “Our business, in all our shops, has been very encouraging since we re-opened in April, and we have long since given up trying to draw any correlation between the weather and the strength of our business,” says Richard Barker, owner of four Cilla and Camilla shops in Beaminster, Bridport and Sherborne. “There is clearly some impact on the sales mix, but no measurable impact on the absolute volume of sales. Whatever the weather, we find the biggest influences over sales to be the traditional retail criteria of stock range, price and location. The only part of our business which is affected by the weather is our Beaminster cafe, where the recent spell of warm weather contributed to record sales in the cafe as customers took advantage of our newly refurbished courtyard.”

Above: Cilla and Camilla, Bridport.

Busy Regardless Bring Me Sunshine In Scotland, Janet Hartree, owner, Ewe and Me and Ewe Too in Grantown-on-Spey reports that since opening on April 26, the shops have been busy, with everyone happy to be able to be out and about and buying.

“There was also a desire to support small local shops who had been closed since December 26,” says Janet. “Unfortunately, after the lovely weather in April, May turned colder and endlessly wet. As the month went on, sales dipped a little which affected the day visitors who chose to stay at home, but happily the caravan site and holiday homes were full so we were kept on our toes. Fortunately, June sunshine and good temperatures had a positive effect on the high street with plenty of footfall, so we have been really busy and grateful for that, with smiling faces all round.”

Above: Ewe & Me in Grantown on Spey.

“We are a destination business with a cafe, so the weather has a big effect,” states Nic Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln in West Hallam, which has gift and homewares shops as well as a café. “However, it has been different this year. In the past, a really sunny day out of the blue would be almost as bad as snow, as everyone stayed home to sit in their gardens or went to the park.

With a long spell of sun, trade would eventually normalise. This year, because we can sit a lot of café customers outside, the good weather has made us busy, though we are busy even on the grey days. Sunny weather definitely affects our retail trade though - people just spend less here when the sun shines, and this hasn't changed.”

Above: The Café at The Bottle Kiln, West Hallam.

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

17

Creating fun in 2021 with phenomenal licensed gifts

Secure your stock TODAY! Visit fizzcreations.com or email sales@fizzcreations.com Fizz Creations, 6 Commerce Way, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8TA

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Feedback Sunshine & Showers

A Place To Chill “Since reopening in April, overall, the weather hasn’t daunted our returning customers, and outside visitors to the town have been plentiful too,” confirms Liz Kemp, owner of Kemps General Store and Kemps Bookshop in Malton and Kemps on The Coast in Whitby.

“We’re lucky to have a terrace in the bookshop and good air conditioning, so in a heatwave we are a good refuge for customers who want to browse and chill,” explains Liz. “However, our proximity to the coast means that on really hot days people opt for the seaside rather than a shopping outing. Overcast weather and even light rain is actually our friend and I think people have been so pleased to have the choice to go out and spend time with friends and shop that the weather - especially now that indoor dining is possible - is not as much of a factor as it might have been in other years.”

Above: Kemps Bookshop, Malton.

“Sales of umbrellas from Soake were great in the soggy bounce back, then all of a sudden, as the sun came out, garden candles came into their own.

The large garden incense sticks from Ashleigh and Burwood have been a very strong line,” says Bill Nettelfield, owner, Bill & Bert’s, Colchester.

“But not having figures to compare with last year makes it tricky to really know where we’re at. Father’s Day week was the first week Bill and Bert’s could compare to last year, and we finished the week at 30% up year on year. A lot of UK holidaymakers have been visiting and this is really helping with sales. Last year, after the first lockdown, people were very nervous to travel far, although it doesn’t appear to be the case this year.”

Adds Bill: “It’s too easy to look at the weather and say it’s too wet or it’s too hot. I think the truth is that the independents are in a strong position with their customer service to pick up sales from the nationals who have closed or who don’t offer the same level of service. The garden centres had it all their own way for too long last year.

This year the high street is bouncing back and bouncing back with a vengeance.”

Left: Bill & Bert’s, Colchester.

Adverse Effect

Below: Buy The Light, Bury St Edmunds.

"Unfortunately, both a wet Spring and the heatwave earlier in June had an adverse effect on our sales,” comments Lesley Bancroft, owner of Buy The Light in Bury St Edmunds. “A soggy Spring meant fewer people braved the rain, although we did a roaring trade and sold out of DCUK ducks with raincoats and wellies! While the heatwave brought people out, as it was so hot and muggy here, they seemed happy just sitting around eating ice creams, with shopping the last thing on their minds."

Hot, Hot, Hot Off To The Beach “When the doors re-opened in April, the majority of our loyal customer base were desperate to get back through the door for a good browse around, and the cold and wet start to Spring didn’t have too much of a negative effect on takings,” reports Olivia Reilly, owner of Little Boats Gifts, Brightlingsea.

“However, being a coastal town, when things did finally warm up in June, people were so pleased to see some sunshine that they tended to head to beach which meant the footfall on the high street dropped a little.

We’ll see what the rest of summer brings, but with a lot more people holidaying in the UK we are expecting more visitors and a busy few months ahead.”

Above: Little Boat Gifts, Brightlingsea.

“Cornwall has had some absolutely wonderful weather recently, and it was so nice to see it shine on the world stage for the recent G7 conference,” highlights Keiron Cockley, co-owner of five Brocante gift stores in Cornwall. “Who couldn’t have been tempted to visit when they saw the white sand and crystal clear sea? However, we’ve since had a few days of rain and the famous Cornish ‘mizzle’.

“The extremes at this time of year ultimately have little effect on our takings in a week. People are here on holiday in their droves, and they are absolutely determined to enjoy it. To visit the coastal towns is all part of the experience come rain or shine. A perfect week for us is four or five days of sun, so everyone is chilled and relaxed, and a couple of days overcast, so they are happy to shop.

When it is too hot people hit the beach!”

Left: Broncante, Fowey.

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

19

Taking inspiration from around the world, our exciting collection of Accessories offers a wonderful choice, so you’re sure to find something to complement your décor.

Visit us at Home & Gift

Stylish ceramic and glass vases can

Stands M30, M31 & M17

be used as feature pieces in their own right, or pair beautifully with our incredibly realistic plant stems, whilst candleholders and lanterns

18 - 21 July 2021, Harrogate

offer an easy way of adding warmth and ambience.

View our full collection online at www.gallerydirect.co.uk

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Spotlight On... Home & Gift

Celebrating 60 Years As the first physical gift show to open its doors since the pandemic, Home & Gift, taking place in Harrogate from July 18-21, has been enthusiastically welcomed back with open arms by both exhibitors and retailers.

PG&H put new show director Russell Rule into the hot seat to find out what’s new and different, and what the show - which is celebrating its 60th anniversary - will be offering to visitors.

Above: Visitors are shown taking a break during the show.

Left: The Sundowners party at Harrogate Home & Gift in 2019.

Below left: Home & Gift’s new show director Russell Rule.

Below right: Among the new snoozies! designs for Autumn/Winter from Joe Davies.

Relaxing in a deckchair, sipping a Pimms or simply enjoying an ice cream on a warm summer’s day - these are just some of the delights in store for visitors to Home & Gift in Harrogate this month as they browse the Design Point (DP) marquees and visit the Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC).

For 2021, the show will be co-located with its sister event, the Manchester Furniture Show, which will bring an additional 50+ furniture and interiors exhibitors to Harrogate for visitors to engage with.

“We are taking extra space in the HCC to allow the Manchester Furniture Show to occupy four halls - with Home &

Gift occupying the rest of the HCC plus the marquees within the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton Majestic Hotel,” explains new show director Russell Rule (who has previously worked within Clarion’s Enthusiast portfolio, running the Baby Shows, House & Garden Festival and Spirit of Christmas Fair).

“Home & Gift will offer the retail industry the first and largest in person opportunity for buyers and brands to unite and do business in over a year,” he states. “We are also celebrating our 60th anniversary, so we’re looking forward to celebrating in style with our customers over the four days of the show, to include the Sundowners on Sunday and, of course, at the popular Home & Gift exhibitor party!”

The show will have its usual fun, summery vibe, with lots of opportunities for the industry to do business and to catch-up with colleagues and old friends, says Russell.

Key brands will be back - to include Joe Davies, Hot Tomato, Wrendale Designs, Caroline Gardner, Richard Lang, Big Metal London, Bronte by Moon and Accessories by Park Lane - as well as many new brands joining for the first time, such as Gallery Direct, Bookspeed, Captivate Brands and The Little Botanical, among others.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming customers to our stand (Hall B, stand 66) where they can see our full range of snoozies!, giftware, jewellery and fashion accessories,” enthuses managing director Steve Davies. “snoozies! have been one of our best sellers for ten years now, and brand new for Autumn/Winter 2021 are Dazzle Bling ballerinas, ladies tie dye and soft velour snoozies! for men, with new additions to Pairables including golf, cycling, cats, dogs and a whole lot more, all designed in house and exclusive to Joe Davies in the UK. Also new for the coming season is a new Chaps

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

21

HALL B-B66

GREAT NEW LOCATION! FIND US IN HALL B STAND B66

snoozies!® Pairables

Tree Of Life

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Butterfly Gunmetal & Champagne

Chaps Stuff

Equilibrium® Boho Chic

Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk

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Spotlight On... Home & Gift Left: An array of new cushions from Gallery Direct.

Below left: A set of three Classic Cocktail recipe cards from Coulson Macleod.

Bottom: Gift boxed jigsaw puzzles are among the new launches from Wrendale Designs.

Below right: Visitors are shown browsing the aisles at Home & Gift, Harrogate, in 2019.

Stuff collection that offers metal water bottles, travel cups, hip flasks and beer and coaster sets,” adds Steve.

At Gallery Direct, (Hall M, stands 30 and 31), marketing director Bruce Bell says that the company is really looking forward to exhibiting at the show, “as it will be the first time for over a year that we have got together with all our friends in the industry.

Our SS21 collection features over 1,300 new lines, offering a variety of products and styles to suit different interiors. The collection includes over 500 new accessories, so this exciting product category now boasts over 900 lines. We have also introduced a selection of

Safety First With safety remaining paramount, delivering a safe, secure event for people building, exhibiting at, and visiting Home & Gift in July has been the number one priority.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic, the team and I have been working closely with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) who are liaising with the government directly on live event guidelines,” confirms Russell. “Visitors can therefore expect wider aisles, clear signage, controlled traffic points, an enhanced cleaning regime, anti-bac stations, increased ventilation and multiple entrances, with more outdoor and recharge areas than ever before.”

sumptuous soft furnishings, decorative lighting and signature wall décor pieces, along with furniture and made-to-order upholstery lines.”

Explains Bruce: “The SS21 Collection has been on display to our customers in the Gallery showrooms in Leeds and Sittingbourne, but Home & Gift will be the first time it has been exhibited to the trade in general. We are also launching a further 180 new soft furnishings, including a selection of Christmas lines, cushions and throws, which will be previewed at the show, so visitors will be the first to see them.”

On the Coulson Macleod stand, (DP2 stand 67), the company is back in its usual spot at Home & Gift and is excited to be launching Classic Cocktail recipe cards.

“There are three different sets - Gin, Rum, and Classic,” explains Mark Coulson, “featuring nine individual cocktail recipe cards printed on heavyweight kraft card.

They come in sets of three, packaged with a plywood clipboard and a vintage-style metal bulldog clip hanger, and make perfect pick-up gifts.”

Meanwhile, at Wrendale Designs, new for Autumn/Winter, and launching at Home & Gift, (DP1 stand B6), will be a range of new collections featuring founder and creative maestro’s Hannah Dale’s artwork.

The Big REVEAL As part of a recent rebrand for Clarion’s Retail portfolio, Home & Gift has undergone a creative refresh bringing the whole portfolio of live events together with a new trade e-commerce digital offering, REVEAL, an e-commerce platform that’s a year round digital shopfront and rotating shop window for suppliers and retailers.

“The last 18 months have shown us the importance of online, and it’s why we have created REVEAL to complement our live shows,” confirms Russell. “It will be a hub of product discovery, easy ordering, inspiration and insight, 365 days of year.”

“We're particularly excited about the brand new collection of gift boxed jigsaw puzzles, and also have a new range of fragranced soaps and lip balms,” says Hannah. “As always, there are new additions to existing collections, such as new stationery and accessories, as well as three new characters in our plush character collection.”

With Home & Gift the first physical gift show for almost 18 months, Russell Rule adds: “At the beginning of the year, our research told us that our buyer community is really keen to be back in person, buying and selling, with 87% of visitors saying that they want to come to Harrogate this year. This huge interest has translated into stronger registration than in previous years, with many new buyers joining us for the first time in 2021. Personally, I cannot wait to share a Pimms on the lawn with all our customers in our new Summer Terrace alongside the Design Point (DP) halls! I’ve been working in the exhibition industry for over seven years, and I’m excited to continue to bring my drive, passion and love for live events to the Clarion Retail portfolio.”

Register at www.homeandgift.co.uk Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

23

Stand DP1 B9

Lovingly hand made with natural wax and essential oils in Great Britain w:marmaladeoflondon.com 24_GH_July 2021.indd 1

e:sales@marmaladeoflondon.com

t:+ 44 (0)1242 257509 06/07/2021 14:29

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WHAT’S NEW Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the products which will be showcased at Home & Gift 2021

Seasonal Jewellery Miss Milly brings colour and style to any store at affordable prices with a low £100 minimum order and no MOQs.

Flowers galore

The award-winning,

Gallery Direct’s extensive home accessories catalogue includes a wonderful

British brand showcases

array of faux stems and plants. With over 250 lines to choose from, there is

current spring/summer

something to suit all interiors, whether customers prefer soft and subtle, or

jewellery lines in pastels

bold and eye-catching. The collection of stems offers pieces such as large

and brights for

Allium heads, which are perfect for making a statement as a stand-alone

immediate delivery as

feature in a vase, as well as a wide variety of flower and leaf stems which can

well as new lines for

be used to create beautiful bouquets and arrangements.

autumn/winter in

Galeery Direct

traditional jewel colours. Cute, matt

T: 01795 439159

silver squirrel, reindeer

E: sales@gallerydirect.co.uk

and donkey pin brooches are being added to popular animal styles, alongside the best-

W: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

selling magnetic brooches.

Hall M Stand 30, 31, 17

Miss Milly T: 01905 622509 E: hello@missmilly.co.uk W: www.missmilly.co.uk

Nuzzles Collection

Hall DP3 Stand 8

Joe Davies is very happy to be showcasing its new designs of the popular Nuzzles range of slipper socks.

Ocean Love Set

Nuzzles are machine washable, come complete with soft,

Share the happy feeling of being close

cosy Sherpa lining to ensure feet stay warm and toasty

to the sea with this beautiful set from

and have a non-slip sole. New designs include colourful

Inis. Tucked inside its new keepsake tin

diamonds, spots and chevrons and cats, dogs and owls in

gift box are a 30ml Cologne, plus travel

eye-catching colours. Available in men’s, ladies and kids,

sizes of its seaweed enriched body

they are a treat no feet should miss! Everything will be

lotion and shower gel. The sparkling

available to order in Joe Davies’ trademark ‘little and

seas design of the box and the ocean

often’ quantities, with a minimum order value of just £100.

fresh scent of Inis favourites, will make

Joe Davies

you feel close to the sea - no matter

T: 0161 9756300

where you are.

E: sales@joedavies.co.uk

Inis

W: www.joedavies.co.uk

T: +353 1 2867125

Hall B Stand 66

E: info@inis.co.uk W: www.inis.com Hall DP1 Stand B60

Birth Flower Jewellery Life Charms is extremely excited to share with you its new Birth Flower 14ct gold plated range, with adjustable chain clasp fastening. If you are looking for something modern and fast selling to add to your offer for 2021, the team would be delighted to discuss becoming a stockist of Life Charms jewellery this year.

Life Charms T: 0203 4882656 E: info@lifecharms.co.uk W: www.lifecharms-trade.co.uk Hall DP3 Stand 40 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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Come and see us on stand DP1 – A93

Lilliputiens creations are full of unexpected details and activities, a constant source of wonder, discovering and learning.

Juratoys UK Ltd. Tel: 0208 878 2133 E: sales@juratoys.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the products which will be showcased at Home & Gift 2021 Candles To Aid Wellbeing Lockdown left many of us feeling jaded and restoring mental health has been a key national focus. There is one simple way of raising your spirits that you might have overlooked: scent.

While scents are in no way a cure for mental health issues, there are some that have been found to improve wellbeing. Because of this, those clever perfumers at Potters Crouch Candles have created a range of fragrances known to help you relax, feel uplifted and energise you. With supporting POS and some brilliant new gift bags, retailers are finding a significant uplift in sales as well as mood.

Potters Crouch Candles T: 01727 836454 E: info@potterscrouchcandles.co.uk

Equilibrium Bracelet Bobbles

W: www.potterscrouchcandles.co.uk

Joe Davies is well known for its popular Equilibrium jewellery and fashion

Hall DP1 Stand C40

accessories brand and its new Bracelet Bobble collection is proving to be a “hot” seller! Nine vibrantly coloured hair bands, each with an intricately designed charm and a pretty backing card double up as stylish bracelets. What’s more they come with a compact acrylic counter display unit ensuring you can maximise sales with a minimum use of space.

Joe Davies T: 0161 975 6300 E: sales@joedavies.co.uk W: www.joedavies.co.uk Hall B Stand 66

Jewellery To Celebrate Despite the difficulties of the last year or so, Rodney Holman has lots of fantastic new designs for you to tempt your customers back into your stores! With brighter times on the horizon, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate and for people to treat themselves and loved ones to fabulous jewellery. As always, there is no minimum order and delivery is free, plus it will be offering 10% off all orders placed at the show!

Rodney Holman T: 01285 656132 E: info@rodneyholman.co.uk W: www.rodneyholman.co.uk Hall C Stand C30

Eco-Friendly Art Gifts This summer Tilnar Art is launching two exciting new collections of products including an ‘animaltastic’ AluminArk Collection which comprises of beautiful garden birds, elephants, giraffes, Highland cows and stag sculptures made from recycled aluminium in the stunning Azeti colours. Tilnar has also added a Brushed Silver Collection. They are both, as are all Tilnar’s collections, Fairtrade and handmade recycled and recyclable making the perfect eco-friendly gift.

Tilnar Art T: 01277 297259

British Made Homeware & Gifts

E: nicky@tilnarart.co.uk

Rebecca Pitcher designs fresh and contemporary

W: www.tilnarart.co.uk

homewares and gifts inspired by coastal and country

Hall DP4 Stand 76

living. Passionate about manufacturing within Britain, it works with small and heritage UK manufacturers to create high quality products with a low carbon footprint. The product range includes cushions, kitchen linens, china mugs and jugs, greetings cards and home fragrance.

Rebecca Pitcher E: info@rebeccapitcher.co.uk W: www.rebeccapitcher.co.uk Hall DP1 Stand D62 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the products which will be showcased at Home & Gift 2021

Hand-Made Jewellery Every piece of Lucy Flint Jewellery is hand-made, with sustainability in mind, using traditional silversmithing techniques. The team find it so rewarding making jewellery to treasure, that is full of meaning and helps to cherish

Games For All University Games and The Lagoon Group will have two stands at Home & Gift, with over 750 lines now in their combined games, puzzles and gifts portfolio. The Lagoon Group will have its bestselling licences such as The World of David Walliams, Einstein, Professor Rubik and Plasticine on display, as well as number one selling Table Top favourites. University Games also have some great new additions joining their children’s and family ranges this autumn including the new Quicksand and Eye Opener games as well as Anti-Monopoly, Auto-correct and 5 Star Review.

University Games & The Lagoon Group

special people, places and events in life that really matter. In its collections, you’ll find detailed flowers, stunning animals, birds and insects along with intricate, engraved botanical illustrations. All of the jewellery is available in sterling silver or sterling silver plated in 22-carat gold.

Lucy Flint Jewellery T: 01572 723335 E: lucy@lucyflintjewellery.co.uk W: www.lucyflintjewellery.co.uk

T: 020 72540100

Hall DP3 Stand 38

E: www.university-games.co.uk Hall DP1 Stand B72 - Hall DP1 Stand B26

WWF Partnership Much-loved French toy brand Janod, is delighted to

Sustainable Gifts

announce its exciting collaboration with WWF, as the

Since January 2020 Eco Chic has

team unveil a brand-new collection bursting with

proudly recycled over 1.5 million

stunning toys to inspire and engage the next

plastic bottles. To help the team

generation of animal and nature lovers. This

celebrate this achievement they

partnership comprises more than 30 sustainably

have some great bounce back

made, fun-filled products from animal themed push

deals strictly available on a first

alongs, to awe inspiring underwater themed 3D

come first served basis. Eco Chic

jigsaws. Created using 100% eco-responsible

continues to offer on trend designs

materials the whole collection is aimed at educating

and on trend products, so don’t

children on the importance of looking after the planet

miss out!

we live in.

Eco Chic

Juratoys

T: 0208 6069419

T: 0208 8782133

E: support@eco-chic.shop

E: sales@juratoys.co.uk

W: www.eco-chic.shop

W: www.janod.com

Hall A Stand 11

Hall DP1 Stand A93

Gifts For Spice Lovers Spice Kitchen offers everything you need to make fragrant, tasty authentic dishes. Choose from its Indian, World, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Chilli, Baby or Gin tins, with or without a beautiful silk sari wrap. Each order includes a free recipe guide packed full of inspiration and every silk sari wrap is hand sewn, always using recycled sari material for this. Spice Kitchen offers the perfect gift for any food fan!

Spice Kitchen T: 07729 116102 E: soldwithlove@spicekitchenuk.com W: www.spicekitchenuk.com Hall A Stand T6 PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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PG Live 2021

A Cardie Reunion

Greeting cards were one of the top product sectors that really came into their own during the pandemic, with the sector hugely increasing in importance for many gift retailers.

With dedicated greeting card show PG Live all set to welcome visitors at London’s Business Design Centre later this month on Tuesday 27 July and Wednesday 28 July - the show is an unmissable opportunity for gift retailers to physically see the latest ranges from countless leading names, as well as newbies and brand-new start-ups.

Known for its friendly vibe and extra treats, gift retailers will receive a warm greeting as well as the opportunity to see thousands of new greeting cards!

As the UK's only dedicated, specialist greeting card show, PG Live 2021 will be bringing the whole greeting card community together at the end of July - publishers, retailers and trade suppliers - to share in what makes the industry great - its products and its people.

"We're so excited that PG Live is back this year,” state Rachel and Paul Roberts, co-owners of five MOOCH gift stores in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. “We constantly challenge ourselves to keep our range of greeting cards fresh and varied, and meeting

the people behind the brands is really important to us. For us, the people we work with are as important as the product itself and that's something you can't establish by email. When we're looking at new ranges we think about our whole shop and how it all knits together, and seeing everyone in one place makes that so much easier.”

Continues Rachel: “Our main purpose for visiting PG Live is to find new and exciting ranges, and it's also a brilliant opportunity to see our key supplier partners to say ‘hello’

Below: It’s back! PG Live will be re-opening its doors on July 27 and 28 at the Business Design Centre in London’s Islington.

Below middle: Cookery writer Prue Leith showcases her debut card range for Ling Design at PG Live in 2019.

Bottom right: A warm welcome from the popular ‘cardies’ awaits.

and look at all their glorious newness. It's such a lovely show and the focus on just one category makes it really easy to navigate."

Adam and Harriet de Wolff, co-owners of The Indigo Tree in Crystal Palace and Streatham add: “There’s always a buzz at PG Live and I’m sure this year will be more exciting than ever. The show is a fantastic opportunity to discover new talent and new designs as well as to meet agents and suppliers from across the country. PG Live is the one show on the calendar where you will be sure to refresh your card racks and spinners. For us, it is a must visit event,” Adam emphasises.

Lunch Is On Us! There’s a saying that ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’, but PG Live is a show that turns that old adage on its head! A delicious, specially prepared hot - or cold - lunch is available for both visitors and exhibitors, with free teas and coffees available on both show days.

Left: Lunch is served!

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PG Live 2021

“It’s my favourite show of the year,” states Georgina Black, owner of the Pretty Shiny Shop in Finsbury Park. “It’s got such a happy vibe and I don’t feel rushed. I love that it focuses on just greeting cards, offering a mix of large publishers, established independents and new starters.”

As Aga Gabyrsiak, co-owner of Highworth Emporium in Highworth, points out: “Greeting cards are a big chunk of our business - over 30% so dedicating time for them is extremely important for us. PG Live is a perfect way to do it, as it focuses on cards. I like the size of the show, the surroundings, the ambience and the delicious lunch which is not to be missed! It usually takes me just over half a day to see all the stands and to make choices. It is not overwhelming, as other shows can be, and I’m very much looking forward to this year’s PG Live visit!”

Cathy Frost, owner of Loveone in Ipswich, points out: “While many of us have become more tech savvy in recent times, and have experienced more buying online and via Zoom, nothing quite beats the faceto-face contact, the thrill of discovering a new designer and the togetherness of a trade show. I have really missed the chance to meet up with regular suppliers, discover new ones and generally get the inside view of our industry that a show like PG Live can provide. I’m very much looking forward to a long overdue trip to London!”

Some Of The New Launches...

There will hundreds of exciting new greeting card ranges being unveiled at the show, with just a few spotlighted here...

Above: Visitors are shown browsing the aisles.

Right: One of the designs in Wendy Jones-Blackett’s ART range.

Below left: Two international visitors clearly having a great time

The rollcall of exhibitors for PG Live 2021 continues to grow and includes popular names such as Wendy Jones-Blackett, Belly Button Designs, The Art File, Paper Salad, UK Greetings, Woodmansterne, Dean Morris Cards, Alex Clark Art, Danilo, Ohh Deer, Five Dollar Shake, Ling Design, Megan Claire, Deva Designs, Emotional Rescue, Redback, Hallmark, Cardology, Paperlink, Pigment, Unique and many more, with new launches and thousands of options on offer.

“Buyers will be hit from all angles with new designs from leading brands and sparkling new start-ups, but then there are all the other lovely bits too - the unrivalled feeling of friendship, the upbeat atmosphere and all of the perks - free coffees and teas, lunches and the opening night party - which all contribute to both days going with a swing,” says co-show director Jakki Brown, joint managing director of Max Publishing which organisers and owns the event.

“There’s definitely something for each and every genre - from cards that can’t help but make you laugh, to something cute to

l Belly Button Designs will be showing a wide range of humorous greeting cards that are just a tad cheeky, or ever so slightly offensive, guaranteed to make you laugh. l The Art File will be showcasing 14 brand new ranges launched this year, including six brand new everyday collections to celebrate the return of PG Live. The entire Christmas 2021 collection will also be showcased. l Wendy Jones-Blackett will be going back to its handmade roots with ART, a collection of digital paintings printed onto translucent vellum, sewn onto chalky textured board and finished with a splash of sparkly stars. l The Seed Card Company will be showing an inspirational collection of plantable and biodegradable eco-friendly greeting cards, notecards and thank you card sets.

make you go ‘aahh’, or children’s cards that fill a gap in the market, as well as the latest take on popular culture, handmade creations and more. Plus, sustainable, eco-friendly cards that are kind to the planet will, of course, be a major focus.

But even that’s not all. Socially speaking, there’s every opportunity to network with like minded people in the industry. There are goodie bags on arrival, and a warm welcome from the ‘cardie’ greeters, so hope to see you there!”

Retailers registering ahead of the event will receive a fabulous show preview giving them a taster of some of the new ranges that will be on offer.

Register at www.progressivegreetings.com

It’s Party Time!

Everyone is invited to let their hair down at an opening night party that will see the great and the good in the card industry - exhibitors, retailers and trade suppliers clinking glasses and enjoying a fabulous evening networking opportunity at the end of the first day.

It’s free to attend and an event that’s not to be missed, with corks popping from 6pm. You have to be there!

Right: Exhibitors and visitors getting together at the opening night networking party.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Eco-friendly - recycled & recyclable Fairtrade & handmade by Indian craftsmen

NEW PRODUCTS - PRE-ORDER NOW - In Stock AUTUMN 2021

Tilnar Art is very proud to have designed and now be launching our new AluminArk Collection of Recycled Aluminium Animals along with a new Brushed Silver Collection & additions to our current collections.

See you at a Trade Show soon!

Harrogate Home & Gift - 18-21 July 2021 - Hall DP4 Stand 76 Autumn Fair - 5-8 September 2021 - Hall 6 Stand A44 Glee - 14-16 September 2021Hall 6 Stand E10-F11 01277 297259

sales@tilnarart.co.uk

www.tilnarart.co.uk

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Spotlight On... Sustainability

Protecting The Planet With the world focused on environmental concerns, suppliers across all industries are taking action to ensure that they are manufacturing responsibly.

PG&H talked to some of the leading gift suppliers who are putting sustainability at the top of their agenda, while ensuring that products keep up with trends.

As retailers have been discovering, there has been a significant increase in ethical consumerism with people wanting to feel positive about the things they surround themselves with or gift to others. It has made them more mindful and critical in their buying, and keen to learn more about a product’s origin and sustainable credentials.

The knock-on effect has been for suppliers to up their game, to include Katie Loxton, with the brand embarking on a journey of becoming more sustainable in SS21 through offering nine best selling styles that have all been made from recycled materials.

The Sustainable Style collection is the brand’s first launch, with the company’s ecofriendly goal being to create all their collections sustainably. “The capsule collection ranges from the Sophia crossbody to the Kensington weekend bag, which

deliver the same loved style without Above: The Katie Loxton Kensington weekend bag from the company’s any sacrifice on quality or look,” Sustainable Style collection. confirms Katie Loxton, founder of both Inset: A selection of re-usable bags from Puckator. her eponymous company and Joma Jewellery. (See Jewellery/Fashion Accessories on pages 55-59).

The collection has been created using RPET-based PU and RPET polyester lining, with RPET material (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) made by using recycled plastic bottles, with the Kensington weekend bag made from 21 plastic bottles. (One metre of RPET PU material can reuse an impressive 21 waste plastic bottles, reducing CO2 emissions by 1.32 litres, Left: An Eco Chic re-usable saving 0.02 litres of oil and 1.94 litres of shopping bag. water). The company is also moving its Far left: Simply Green throws and cushions from Gallery Direct. best selling Katie Loxton Perfect Pouch to an eco-friendly material, one of the properties. Matching first to do so in the fashion industry. feather-filled cushions, “This is just the beginning!” says Katie. made from the same fabric, In interiors, Gallery Direct has a are also available. range of Simply Green cushions and Additionally, the labels throws which are also made from used for the collection are recycled plastic bottles. “A great deal made from recycled of thought, design and development material, while the cushions went into the new brand, from the logo and throws have a woven to the products to the labels,” says label, featuring the brand head of sales and business development logo, and recycled cardboard swing tag.

“It's common knowledge that the effect (Accessories) Chris Lewis. of plastic and excess rubbish on the world is The 100% recycled throws are handsomething we all need to combat,” says woven using yarn made from recycled bottles, Puckator’s designer Laura Billingham, “and with each throw using approximately 300 people can have a significant impact by plastic bottles. They are collected and making the simple switch over to reusable shredded into very fine strips which are back bags. On average, 500 single-use plastic combed to open the fibres and then spun into shopping bags are replaced by one reusable yarn and dyed. The resulting yarn is as soft bag over the course of a single year!” as wool, with washable and stain-resistant Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Spotlight On... Sustainability The company’s wide range of reusable products ranges from an eco-option for a school lunchbox to a new weekend shopper, with official licensed reusable products, to include Volkswagen, Asterix and Obelix, also available.

The need to acquire re-usable carrier bags, and to beat the new trading charge that was to be introduced by the Government, inspired the launch of Eco Chic six years ago, a subsidiary brand of Faye UK. “As the industry, along with consumers, became more aware of sustainability, Eco Chic took the decision to make all its products sustainable, recyclable or recycled, including all packaging,” explains the company’s Richard Marsden.

The company offers a wide choice of colourful, competitively priced bags - all made 100% from recycled plastic bottles with Eco Chic repurposing over 1.5m plastic bottles in production in the last year alone. “In addition, due to popular demand,

the product line of reusable thermal bottles has been expanded too, further encouraging a shift away from single-use plastic,” adds Richard.

At KitchenCraft, part of Lifetime Brands, commercial and marketing director Claire Budgen highlights the company’s new BUILT Planet Bottle. “It’s made from recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfill,” she comments.

BUILT has teamed up with community projects to encourage schools to collect disused bottles in

Worth Taking Note To complement the company’s humorous greeting cards, Rosie Made A Thing has just launched magnetic fridge list pads which are printed in the UK on sustainably-sourced textured board and supplied in biodegradable packaging.

Right: Rosie Made A Thing’s new sustainable magnetic list pad.

Above: Award winning, sustainable Bioloco is distributed in the UK by Blue Eyed Sun. Right: Whiz Kid Games’ Go Genius Maths board is 100% recyclable.

Below left: Planet Bottle is new from BUILT. Below right: Brand new products from Tilnar Art which are made from recycled aluminium.

exchange for library vouchers, with the plastic bottles then transformed into the BUILT Planet Bottle. Other recent launches include glass bottles for those who prefer them to drinking from stainless steel flasks.

Also banging the drum for sustainable food and drink products is Blue Eyed Sun, with the company’s eco-friendly Bioloco giftware products winning five categories in the Gift of the Year Awards earlier this year - to include Bioloco’s Plant Kids Cup, which won the Best Ethical Gift Award for its outstanding environmental credentials.

Comments Blue Eyed Sun’s managing director Jeremy Corner, who distributes Bioloco in the UK. “Our new carbon neutral Bioloco Plant products are a great example of carbon neutral and climate positive products that help to reduce their impact on the planet.

These types of products are ideal for ethically minded consumers who want to do the right thing with their purchasing - a significant and fast growing percentage of shoppers in the UK as statistics show.”

Heather Watherston, founder and creative director of Whiz Kid Games, whose Go Genius board game won a Gift of the Year 2021 award, points out that in the past five

years there’s been a shift from eco products being niche to becoming mainstream, with the gift industry very much at the forefront.

“Additionally, consumers are realising that they can buy gifts with eco credentials and not necessarily pay too much of a premium for them,” says Heather. “To minimise our carbon footprint we manufacture locally in Europe with a partner that uses sustainable energy. All games are printed on FSC paper, playing pieces and dice are made from wood from local, sustainable forests and colours and coatings are all water-based and non-toxic. Everything we make is 100% recyclable.”

Interestingly, Tilnar Art has always been ahead of the curve, with sustainability at the company’s heart, and all collections handmade, fair trade and recycled.

This summer, the company is launching a new range of products that include elephants, giraffes, Highland cows and stag sculptures made from recycled aluminium. As with all Tilnar’s collections, they are handmade by Indian artisans working in cooperatives. In fact, the

company’s Azeti, H20 and Meg Hawkins collections are not only recycled but completely recyclable and come in a plasticfree presentation box too, while the handmade Soapstone collection has less than 1% environmental impact in terms of production and disposal, compared to equivalent plastic or resin based products.

“We’re proud to say that this is a zero plastic product,” says Tilnar’s Nicky Maynard.

With gift companies proud to fanfare their sustainability credentials, and consumers thinking more about their purchases and the effect they will have on the planet, sustainability is surely on course to becoming a way of life.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Exclusively available from Enesco In Stock October 2021 Order now to avoid disappointment

www.enesco.co.uk ENESCO LIMITED, Brunthill Road, Kingstown, Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 0EN. UK Customer Services Telephone: 01228 404022 Email: uksales@enesco.co.uk Overseas Customer Services Telephone: +44 1228 404066 Email: eurosales@enesco.co.uk © Disney.

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In Profile: Enesco

Licensed To Thrill In recent years, as a subsidiary of its American parent Enesco LLC, Enesco UK has evolved to become a major manufacturer and distributor of high quality figurines and accessories featuring the world’s favourite licences to include Beatrix Potter, Disney, Grinch, Harry Potter, Heartwood Creek by Jim Shore, and Lolita, as well as DC Comics.

Additionally, the company continues to distribute the much loved Willow Tree figurines, as well as GUND plush, along with its own, in-house designed Beatrix Potter, Ginology and Izzy and Oliver baby collections.

But even that’s not all. There’s just been a big mid-year launch, to include a major new licence, coupled with a huge focus on sustainability, as marketing & product director Helen Cottrill explains.

Enesco has long been synonymous with the UK’s leading collectables brands. “However, our portfolio is at its strongest right now,” confirms marketing & product director Helen Cottrill, who joined Enesco almost 30 years ago. “I believe we have the largest licensed figural collection across all suppliers in our markets, from Disney, Beatrix Potter and Willow Tree, and we are also working in some innovative areas, with levitation now part of our offering.”

As she explains: “our portfolio is very artist driven and this offers value and, of course, exclusivity. But, we do have several own developed, and highly successful collections, with Ginology set to be one of our largest collections in 2021.

Currently we’re working on custom designs for specific customers, and our January 2022 launch looks stunning. At £9.95 these are a perfectly functional gift or own purchase.”

The company is also strengthening its mother and baby

Above left: Enesco’s marketing & product director Helen Cottrill.

Above right: Just launched: Game of Thrones.

Shown is Castle Black, illuminated.

Right: Babywear and accessories were recently introduced to the company’s Izzy and Oliver collection.

offerings, notably the award-winning Peter Rabbit Baby and plush collections along with Izzy and Oliver Baby accessories.

“Plus, licensed lit buildings are a growing sector, and we will have Disney, Grinch, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones collections in 2021,” highlights Helen.

“These stunning items can make beautiful scenes but also stand alone.”

With two new collections a year, the company’s big mid-year launch in June was Game of Thrones. “We will not be shipping the stock until 2022, but this stunning collection of lit buildings, figurines and water balls look fantastic,” enthuses Helen. “The USA team started selling the collection in April and had the fastest sell

in ever, with record orders placed. The attention to detail is incredible, from Castle Black to the Iron Throne.”

However, with the current post Covid shipping delays and long lead times from China, Helen admits it’s made delivery dates more difficult. “We have therefore been advising and encouraging our customers to forward order for many months, and our order book reflects this. It gives us time to react to demand, have regular orders arriving in our warehouse and to maximise potential.

Our products are not available from anywhere else,” she points out, “and we launch the product globally at the same time,

Going For Global Growth Internationally, Enesco has strengthened the team. Phil Atherton, (formerly with Portmeirion Group), joined Enesco as commercial director at the end of 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience, along with the enthusiasm, to drive Enesco’s international business.

Additionally, Gillian Blair has been appointed head of trade sales, newly responsible for growth overseas, having been responsible for growth in the UK for the past five years.

Plus, Enesco also has fully employed sales teams in Germany and Holland.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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GiftsandHome.net is published by gift sector experts, for gift trade experts

From the publishers of Progressive Gifts & Home, and the organisers of The Greats Gift Retailer Awards.

With an unrivalled email subscriber base of 7,559 readers and industry leading open rates, - largely dominated by retail buyers, the twice-weekly this fast-paced sector.

The modern, easy to navigate website provides a in-depth articles, an industry jobs board, retail analysis, digital issues of Progressive Gifts & Home, and much, much more.

Advertising and Commercial Opportunities: Advertisement Manager - Jo Pilcher jop@max-publishing.co.uk

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Editorial and Content Opportunities: Editor - Sue Marks sue@suemarks.co.uk

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In Profile: Enesco so the end consumers know the product is coming and are happy to pre-order from their favourite stockist.”

Among Enesco’s biggest selling artists is Jim Shore who captures the essence of traditional themes and motifs of American and European folk art. “Jim continues to work on the most spectacular designs,” says Helen. “From Heartwood Creek to Disney Traditions and Grinch, all of the new products have booked beyond expectations.

The demographic for Jim’s collections is younger families, with new homes and a long-term love for these brands. People are investing in heirlooms, products they love, which will be enjoyed for many years to come. We are seeing that throwaway seasonal decorations are less popular, while key is investing in home décor that is cherished, and used annually.”

The good news for fans is that Jim will be doing some virtual collectors’ events in the Autumn, which are currently in the planning stage. “Jim’s safety is, of course our absolute priority,” says Helen, “so while nothing beats meeting Jim in person, his dedicated followers will nevertheless be able to enjoy a virtual hug with him!”

Enesco’s Top Licences l Disney Traditions l Willow Tree l Beatrix Potter

Sustainability At The Forefront Along with many other companies, sustainability is currently Enesco’s big focus, so how is that side of the business evolving? “Where possible we are moving to fully recyclable packaging, or clearly identifying which parts of the packaging can be recycled,” Helen emphasises.

“Collections such as Ginology have been updated to have paper pulp inserts rather than plastic, and we use twine rather than plastic to add hangtags. Additionally, product materials are constantly being evaluated to determine our best option, created using recycled material or in a material which is 100% recyclable. It’s the long-term impact, not quick fixes, that we are interested in.”

Right: Enesco’s Ginology glasseware is a packaged in a kraft box.

Right: New this year, Adorable You from Willow Tree.

Below: Disney Tradition’s Belle by Jim Shore. The figurine celebrates the 30th anniversary of Beauty & The Beast.

Willow Tree meanwhile, is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, and continues to go from strength to strength, with demand for the collection, (figural family sculptures by artist Susan Lordi), at its highest across the world. “The simple style, but strong family messaging, makes it the perfect Covid and post Covid gift,” points out Helen. “Our January 2021 launch was well received, with stunning designs to complete family groupings. Our Adorable You figure is so timely with so many of us getting new family pets.”

Social media meanwhile, has become increasingly important to driving sales. “Social media plays a huge part in all our lives, it has made the world a smaller place and allowed us to have a relationship with people who would otherwise not be available to us. Jim Shore and his team embrace social media and do weekly Facebook live chats from his studio, along with virtual signings. Also embracing social media is Susan Lordi who holds regular Q&A sessions for retailers and, of course, beautiful visual messaging to consumers.”

Adds Helen: “Additionally, as a company, we have many branded social media pages, our product is beautiful and our priorities have changed with the demand for visual content, which is all freely available to our retailers via our new digital asset management platform. Speaking personally, Instagram influences my own buying

decisions, as it’s perfect for beautiful visuals and aspirational choices.”

In the absence of trade shows since the pandemic, Enesco was (arguably) the first to market with a virtual showroom, which launched on December 28. “Despite lockdown three, we have had some great traffic to our website via the virtual showroom, with a high engagement level. We have recently updated it to highlight key products and new features on the website, so we will be maximising on this great tool during 2021.”

As restrictions ease, and with trade shows back in the frame, the company is already a confirmed exhibitor at Spring Fair 2022 and is also working with Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Ambiente, to secure stand space. “We have really made the most of technology during Covid and have proven that, as a company, we can adapt to the most difficult situations, although nothing beats that faceto-face interaction. Letting people see our product and the team building aspect is key.”

So, what’s the secret of Enesco’s success, as well as being a subsidiary of a large American company? “It’s having the global power to access to the top licences.

We are a big player to a licensor,” Helen states. “Secondly, it is the access to a really great team. Collectively we have the best in leadership, marketing, sales, creative and product development, and have the benefit of a fully employed team on the ground in Asia, working closely with our vendors, ensuring our quality standards are met and also securing our supply chain. In moving forward, we will therefore continue to ensure that our collectables business continues to go from strength to strength, both in the UK and globally.”

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Awaken the senses LOTS MORE FRAGRANCES TO EXPERIENCE

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Spotlight On... Home Fragrancing

All

As we start to think about cosying up for Autumn, fragrancing our homes is very much at the top of the list, with plum once again among the most popular trend colours for winter.

But it’s not only about fragrance and colour. Refills and re-usable vessels are also helping to drive sales, with suppliers increasingly look to sustainable options.

PG&H sniffed out what’s new for the coming season.

Lit

Up

It’s no secret that the home fragrancing market burns brightest during the darker, chillier Autumn and winter months, when consumers spend more time at home. And with many people still working from home, sales of home fragrancing products candles, reed diffusers, melt burners and fragrance lamps - have soared, boding well for the coming season.

“Uptake of our new Life In Bloom collection, which features floral reed diffusers with dried flower stems, colourful scented candles and co-ordinating fragrance lamps, has been immense,” says Deborah Bettinson, Ashleigh & Burwood’s PR manager trade.

“Looking ahead, we’ve built onto the collection for AW21 with two powerful new colours and fragrances as well as adding in a refill option for the coloured gypsophila stems. Floral fragrances Plum Blossom & Pomegranate and Winter Rose & Jasmine, will be adding richness to the

Left: Life In Bloom Purple Plum Blossom & Pomegranate floral reed diffuser and diffuser flower refill

fragrance palette, with bold purple and vivid red colours an opulent look for Autumn/Winter.”

The company is also launching diffuser flower refills. “These further support our sustainability objectives, as customers can opt to purchase Right: Inside Best Kept Secrets’ Winter Scents range, featuring 12 fragrances.

Below: Marmalade of London’s Mosney Mill Winter Fir.

Protecting The Planet At The Candle Brand - home to flower diffusers, where each flower is made from thin slices of solar wood - the company’s wax is vegan friendly, produced with a natural blend of coconut and rapeseed oils.

“For Autumn/Winter 2021, we are focusing on dark woody fragrances, with notes of rich incense oils to create inner warmth,” highlights The Candle Brand’s co-founder Christina Brand, “and will be expanding our Burn + Bloom candle collection which features a naturally flowering plantable seeded label.”

Left: A flower diffuser from The Candle Brand.

these, together with refill fragrances and reeds, to refresh their used diffuser and can also choose to mix and match their colour and fragrance to customise their vessels,” Deborah explains.

In addition, Ashleigh & Burwood’s Heritage Collection, which provides a decorative vintage vibe, is adding two new fragrances and colours for AW21. “The new plum and gold colourways are introducing a brand new decorative diffuser vase design and fragrance lamp gift set,” Deborah continues, “with new scents, Blackcurrant & Cedarwood and Rose & Golden Leather, rich, warming and ideal for the cooler months.”

Plum also features in the colour palette for Marmalade of London.

“We’re launching two new lines in our Marmalade of London Mosney Mill Winter fragrances, where we have used colours that are very on trend this year dark plum, dark blue, grey and teal. The fragrances have taken over a year to develop,” explains the company’s sales director Helen Flook. “One of our big passions is to help save the bumble bee, and we are proud supporters of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, with 5% of the profits of the Marmalade of London Mosney Mill range going to the Trust,” she states. “We have Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Spring/Summer Fragrances available to ORDER NOW

Get in touch with us today on 01173161200 or via hfcustomercare@newellco.com

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Spotlight On... Home Fragrancing planted over 1,000 trees and plants that attract bees and other insects around our new factory in the Cotswolds.” Adds Helen: “All our products are handmade in the UK, and, where possible, we have always tried to purchase all components in the UK and to make our packing recyclable and/or reusable, and are continuing to improve on this all the time.”

New products from Best Kept Secrets meanwhile, include the Dragonfly range which features high end candles in glass in 12 of the company’s most popular fragrances, to include Plum Champagne and Hot Cinnamon. “The candles come in three different designs - Entwine, simple and contemporary; Regent, traditional, not unlike a whisky tumbler, giving a beautiful effect as the candle burns, and Panache, which has a dimple effect, giving a wonderful sparkle,” explains Best Kept Secrets’ managing director Vanessa Curry. (Each candle comes

in a branded presentation box with a matching coordinated gift bag, complete with tissue paper and ribbon handles).

In addition, the company’s wax melts, in the Seriously Scented collection, have had a makeover, and now come in an easy-touse package topped off with a satin bow.

“We’re really excited to launch two new wax melt designs, as well as wax melt cubes and our packaged wax melt presentation

Left: Pintail’s Spiced Apple Compote.

Below far left: Fresh Cookies, among The Aromatherapy Company’s new Christmas fragrances.

Below: Wax Lyrical’s Mythology

box,” continues Vanessa. The wax melts come in our top 21 fragrances, while the wax melt presentation box allows customers to sample 12 different scents in wax melt pods. “There are two collections available - All Year Scents and Winter Scents, that includes Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh, Yuletide Cheer and Sleigh Bells.”

For winter 2021, Widdop & Co. will be launching three new home fragrances in The Aromatherapy Company collection: Noel, Holiday Cheer and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, welcoming in the Christmas spirit with festive-themed scents that range from candied orange to fresh cookies and pine and cypress. “Maintaining an eco-friendly approach with essential oils and soy wax, these new items offer quality and value for money,” says Widdop’s creative director Stephen Illingworth.

“While the trend of cosying up in our homes and home offices looks set to continue, alongside comfy cushions, a must have is a candle for creating warm, comforting fragrances whether it’s Spiced Apple Compote or a delicious Warm

Gingerbread oozing with cinnamon and rich stem ginger, drizzled with vanilla syrup,” says Pintail Candles’ manging director James Long. “We have also given our Occasions candle range, featuring heartfelt messages, a make-over. With the continuing success of the range, we have followed the trends by adding a splash of colour to the design. The collection now features colourful messages with matching candle wax, presented in our most popular fragrances.”

Wax Lyrical’s brand manager Joan Grenville says that the company’s Street Mythology collection, a new launch for 2021, Continued on page 45

New Kid On The Candle Block New to the occasion/sentiment home fragrancing market place is Scentiment Gifts, launched last year. “There’s still a huge demand for sentiment products and our collection is very concept-led, covering the key occasions,” says managing director Richard Marsden.

The company has recently introduced a range of Scentiment reed diffusers, in Angel Oil and Cotton Fresh, to complement the candles, in dark, striking packaging, with Richard adding: “With Autumn/Winter in mind we have introduced two new candle fragrances - Fireside and Apple & Cinnamon.”

Right: Apple & Cinnamon is among the lidded candles from Scentiment Gifts.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Best Kept Secrets Ltd Morpeth, NE61 6JT Tel: 01670 512222 Email: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk Web: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Light Hearted Candles, Wax Melts and Soaps Celebrating Friends, Family and Special Occasions

Brand New Tracey Russell Designs !!

Home & Gift, Harrogate Hall A Stand 5A

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Spotlight On... Home Fragrancing

Bigger And Better

is ideal for creating a vibrant Autumn vibe.

The range features striking, sophisticated designs in ceramic large multi-wick candles and diffuser vessels, with fragrances featuring a blend of floral and exotic perfumes that tell a story of a time gone by while remaining contemporary.

“The designs on reusable vessels are inspired by vintage botanical imagery to enrich home décor,” Joan explains. “A new, natural blend for diffusers, which is British made, lasts longer than alcohol, is non-toxic and a renewable resource making it more environmentally friendly,” she adds. The company has also launched new scents in HomeScenter Pets that include new fragrances for Christmas in Wax Lyrical’s Made in England range.

Lesser & Pavey has added hundreds of new products to the company’s Desire Aroma range for 2021. In addition to soy candles, reed diffusers and aroma lamps, there are also tea light wax and oil warmers.

The company recently launched a new, larger size of diffuser and candles, with new 500ml,100ml, 200ml diffusers in red, pink, white, silver and gold and candles made of soya. “Each product comes full of fragrance, in excellent packaging, with no expense spared in producing the finished gift item,” says managing director Julian Hunt.

In addition, new skull aroma lamps have joined the collection - one having a ceramic base to the lamp, available in white and silver, while the other is made from glass with 3D design available in silver and gothic black. “The Desire range is all about wellbeing, with these multi-coloured lamps touch sensitive, projecting light that can be used with wax melts and aroma oils,” Julian explains.

Some have a remote control and can play music by Bluetooth, with the fragrance oil and wax melts available to use with the lamps. Other products in the range include ceramic humidifiers that change colour.

Right: Extra large reed diffusers from Lesser & Pavey.

Above left: Oriental Lily from Candlelight’s Chinoiserie range.

Above: New from Gisela Graham.

Homing In Non-flame products too, are continuing to make their presence felt in the home. “Having spent the majority of the last year indoors and redecorating our homes, the demand for flameless home fragrance is still very much with us,” says David Lewis, managing director of Xystos.

“However, more than ever, we want our electric melt burners and ultrasonics to be a statement piece in the home and become a standout feature of the room décor.

We have also seen a surge in requests for colour rather than just the neutrals of previous seasons,” highlights David. “With this in mind, our new lines are more colourful, modern and stylish than ever before, and the use of wax melts and oils within these products mean that people can frequently change their homes fragrance quickly and easily, making it an ideal option.”

Right: Infinity 3D art glass ultrasonic diffuser from Xystos.

Also putting a big focus on sustainability is Candlelight, with sales director Emma Yeardley confirming: “we are seeing a move towards more sustainable vessels on candles that can be repurposed once they have finished their life as a candle.

We will therefore be focusing on developing more glass filled jars with different style lids for later in the season.”

Meanwhile, the company’s Chinoiserie collection embraces an eclectic mix of painted birds, flowers and exotic leaves over candles, diffusers and fragrance. “It’s full of vibrance and colour with ochre, ether and cantaloupe pink playing with rich greens, magenta and teal accents,” says Emma.

Gisela Graham will also be expanding the company’s collection of designs and fragrances for Autumn/Winter, as well as launching a new collection of unscented pillar candles in on trend interior colours.

“They’re for people who want to leave candles burning for a longer time,” highlights sales director Piers Croke.

With suppliers taking home fragrancing to another level, and sustainability the name of the game, retailers are clearly going to be spoilt for choice.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

45

G AT E H

0 C4

ST

1-

T

overcome those lockdown blues

AND DP

Our new range of POS materials, gift bags and gift cards will remind your customers about our unique blends of essential oils and the positive effects of our natural and organic compounds.

& GIF

Let the healing power of fragrance

ME

HA

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d o o m r u Lift yo+ your sales!

Citrus to uplift and energise Florals to help us feel joyful or relaxed Spices to sharpen the mind & boost energy

See your local Agent for the full range of fragrances and materials to share with your customers Or call David on 07867 537192 or email david@potterscrouchcandles.co.uk

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest Home Fragrance products to be showcased this month Creatures Great and Small ‘Creatures Great and Small’ is a fun presentation of three current Best Kept Secrets products: candles, wax melts and natural soaps. Developed with designer Tracey Russell, a farm

Dragonfly Candles

and wild animal theme is created,

Three designer glass tumblers have been sourced by

reminiscent of the great TV series All

Best Kept Secrets, each available in twelve ‘Seriously

Creatures Great and Small.

Scented’ fragrances in white wax and, of course, with

Wonderfully impressive designs of

sparkly toppings. A stunning presentation box in navy

animals with amusing straplines ‘Herd

blue and pink with a Dragonfly theme adds enormously

it’s Your Birthday’, ‘Moooved House’,

to the whole package. As well as this, there is a matching

Thank You Pig Time’.

designer Dragonfly bag which gives a truly glamorous

Best Kept Secrets

fragranced candle gift at a sensible price.

T: 01670 512222

Best Kept Secrets

E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

T: 01670 512222

W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

E: sales@bestkeptsecrets.co.uk W: www.bestkeptsecrets.co.uk

Vibrant New Colours and Fragrances

Wellbeing Collection

Following a successful launch this

Marmalade of London is launching a Wellbeing Collection.

spring, home fragrance expert

Wellbeing and looking after your mental health are

Ashleigh & Burwood is expanding its

important, now more so than ever. COVID has put such a

Life In Bloom collection for the

strain on people's mental health and wellbeing the team

autumn/winter season. Joining the

wanted to develop a range that could help people's overall

range of vibrant candles, diffusers and

wellbeing. The collection includes Calm, Balance and

fragrance lamps are two new

Energise products. As with all its ranges it has developed

colourways in rich shades of purple

this collection to be sustainable, all the glass and outer

and red to complement the cooler

packaging can be reused or recycled. The wax used is soy

months, paired with the scents of

wax and all its products are hand poured in Britain.

sumptuously spicy Plum &

Marmalade of London

Pomegranate and elegantly floral

T: 01242 257509

Winter Rose & Jasmine.

E: helen@marmaladeoflondon.com

Ashleigh & Burwood

W: www.marmaladeoflondon.com

T: 01932 267060 E: COT@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk W: www.HouseOfAB.com

Big Is Beautiful Make a perfumed feature of living space with the new larger size diffusers from Lesser & Pavey. They are available in red, pink, white, silver and gold and are also available in sweet burning candles in three sizes, which are made of soya, so give off no nasty black smoke. Fragrances included in the range are Pomegranate Noir, Velvet Rose & Oud, Fresh Linen, Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Lavender & Chamomile, Peony & Blush, Lime, Basil & Mandarin and Magnolia & Mulberry. They come in excellent packaging, so no expense is spared in producing the finished gift item.

Lesser & Pavey T: 01322 27922 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

47

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Spotlight On... Mugs

Getting A Handle On

Mugs

If there’s one home essential that we can never have too many of it’s mugs! From those we use every day at home or in the office, to the quirky, humorous ones that we give as gifts, to the ‘posh’ ones we bring out for guests, mugs are a ‘must have’, with shapes, themes and designs catering for everyone.

PG&H ‘mugs up’ on what’s new for the coming season.

Most people will happily admit to forming an emotional attachment to a favourite mug, be it a much loved Mother’s or Father’s Day mug, a jokey mug given to them by a friend, one that’s themed to a hobby, or a more upmarket mug that’s deemed ‘special’.

And then there are the ‘go to’s’ for tea and coffee, the one for hot chocolate, or the oversized mug that’s perfect for soup.

And what about children’s mugs that feature their favourite licensed characters?

It’s no wonder that most family mug cupboards are full to bursting!

“In our experience, mugs really are a staple of most gift collections,” concurs Enesco’s marketing director Helen Cottrill.

“We do extremely well with our limited edition fine bone china Beatrix Potter collectors mugs, and for humour and hobbies, we have our own Our Name Is Mud brand. These are a chunkier ceramic mug, larger in size, with occasion, sentiment and amusing messaging. With a SRP of £9.95, they come in a recyclable gift box and make an ideal gift. There’s no need to unpack them for retail display or to buy a gift box.”

At Portmeirion Group, senior brand manager Sara Dickenson says that the company’s perennial, best-selling mug collection is Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs. “Retailers and customers love Hannah Dale’s captivating animal designs because they’re so full of personality,” explains Sara. “This makes them perfect for gift shops. Not only can the customer buy them as a gift, because the recipient has an affection for that particular animal, but also, because that animal might remind them of their loved one, or the design might encapsulate how they feel about someone.”

Dunoon’s sales director, Peter Smith, points to some of the company’s high quality, fine bone china mug favourites, with all mugs manufactured in Stone in

Above: Puckator’s quirky Upside Down mugs.

Left: Enesco’s Our Name Is Mud mugs come in kraft packaging.

Bottom left: Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs Good Hare Day mug.

Below: Cairngorm Hairy Highlanders from Dunoon.

Staffordshire. “Best selling mug themes are animals, especially cats and dogs, as well as floral - people love free flowing watercolour patterns - and also abstract, bright colours.

Additionally, anything that’s regional-specific, such as Highland cows in Scotland, or coastal designs for tourists visiting the seaside. We have a massive mug range to choose from, it’s just a case of stores tailoring the mug selection to cover a variety of tastes and local demand.”

The most successful mugs that Candlelight sells into gift retailers are boxed mugs that co-ordinate well with other items, says the company’s sales director Emma Yeardley. “This is apparent in our Oriental Heron range, with a co-ordinated display having a great impact in store. And now that we have the opportunity to meet up with others again, this range is ideal for sophisticated afternoon tea.” She also highlights Candlelight’s Wild Garden Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

49

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Spotlight On... Mugs

Quirky And Fun

collection in pinks, oranges and greens, which oozes Miami glamour. “This dining range comes beautifully packaged and is ideal for gifting too,” she comments.

“We love mugs,” enthuses Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke, “especially our mini-mugs with matching mini-jugs, for warm milk on the side, made with home espresso kits in mind.”

New launches include four, in-house designed brand new Spring/Easter themes.

“They’re pretty and commercial and include Daisy Days and Bluebells, with wild flowers the heroes of Spring Meadow, while Spring Song has bunnies and chicks to help with Easter Egg hunts.”

Above: Candlelight’s Wild Garden collection, designed in-house, features an urban garden and mythical jungle.

Below: An embossed mug and jug from Gisela Graham.

Humorous mugs can’t fail to be winners, with Puckator’s designer Laura Billingham highlighting the company’s ceramic upside down mugs which offer an opportunity to bring fun and colour into the home. “The ever-growing range features designs to suit everyone, with the mugs produced using high-quality, durable ceramic,” says Laura. “Retailers can create an eyecatching display by combining a mix of styles, colours and patterns, while showing off the impressive upside-down aspect.”

Boxer Gifts’ managing director Thomas O’Brien, says that gift mugs have always been a guaranteed seller for retailers, “and it’s why the industry has seen an explosion of online print-ondemand mugs. As a leading gift wholesaler, we’ve had to recognise this and help our customers fight back. Print-on-demand mugs are often plain white, boring and cheaply made, while we ensure that our mugs are fun, unique and of the highest quality. They include our new crochet, fishing and cycling mugs which are unique and stand out from the crowd, ensuring that our customers still have a competitive advantage. Gift givers want to make the receiver laugh, so mugs need to have an interesting, quirky sentiment that catches the eye.”

Above: A fun fishing mug from Boxer Gifts.

Below: A selection of mugs from KitchenCraft.

Left: Lesser & Pavey brings nature into the home and office.

For Autumn/Winter, there are warm, interior colours of mixed metallics, with collections featuring plenty of new mugs many of which are part of a co-ordinated theme. “For maximum impact, they should be shown with their partners in theme such as coasters and aprons etc.,” adds Piers.

Lesser & Pavey highlights that its new range, with artwork by Jennifer Rose, covers a multitude of product spheres, including mugs. “With so many people having discovered the beauty and sounds of nature, we believe this range is going to be very

Sentimentally Speaking Sentiment always sells, with Widdop and Co’s mugs combining heart-warming sentiments with timeless design. The Disney brand, which fuses contemporary design with classic features, offers an extensive selection of high-quality mugs across nine ranges - from classic illustrated mugs with electroplated features in Classic Collectables to fun, trend-led designs in the Winnie The Pooh range.

“Our next launch will bring more classic artwork, with a soft colour palette and gold foiled detail to our Magical Beginnings range,” explains creative director Stephen Illingworth, “while our Friends & Family range also includes luxury foils with sentimental titles and delicate tones to appeal to the female demographic.”

popular,” says managing director Julian Hunt. “As people return to life in offices etc., they can take a memory of nature with them to enjoy during the working day.”

At KitchenCraft, part of Lifetime Brands, commercial and marketing director Claire Budgen says that mugs and gifting go hand in hand. “Our core mug collection includes china mugs and espresso cups in a host of on-trend designs that suit all personalities and pockets.”

With a wealth of designs to choose from, and the added bonus of so many mugs coming attractively gift boxed, they have to be a win/win for gift shops, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Right: Widdop and Co’s Disney Classic Collectables.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

51

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest Ceramics & Mug collections to be showcased this month

Wildlife Inspired Design The Wildlife in Spring mug by Victoria Eggs is part of a new collection this year. The design was inspired by flowers, insects and well-known birds of British Springtime. This fine bone

Design Led Mugs

china mug includes blackbirds,

Dunoon prides itself on its large Glencoe shape Fine Bone China mug which

sparrows, wrens, bees and butterflies

provides an excellent vehicle for its extremely popular informative series of designs.

surrounded by budding blossom,

New additions to extend the range for 2021 are ‘Microbiology’, ‘Predators’, 'The

beautiful roses and elegant magnolia.

Impressionists’ and 'The World of Tea’. Each design has very bold, colourful and

The mug is screen printed and hand

graphic illustrations along with useful information providing educational

decorated in Britain.

entertainment whilst having a drink.

Victoria Eggs

Dunoon Mugs

T: 020 8013 3284

T: 01785 817414

E: info@victoriaeggs.com

E: sales@dunoonmugs.co.uk

W: www.victoriaeggs.com

W: www.dunoonmugs.co.uk

Lesser and Pavey is delighted to release a

William Morris Designed Tableware

brand new range of ceramics with bold

Brand new from Lesser and Pavey is a stylish

blue statement art. The blue range is by a

range of tableware featuring designs from

Japanese artist Hokusai. The range features

the William Morris design Golden Lily and

artwork from his most popular series of

Poppyfield. This is a new addition to the

works -Thirty Six View of Mount Fiji. This

highly popular William Morris range of fine

new range from Lesser and Pavey is

ceramics already produced by Lesser and

exciting as it is calming with waves of blue

Pavey. This range with bold floral designs

sea illustrating indigenous forms of

dominates the mix of colours that form the

expression and secular art. The range

original William Morris design now captured

consists of fine china mugs in gift sets,

on tableware, which includes tea for one, a

coasters and matching table mats, tea and

butter dish, fine mugs, fine ceramics,

spoon rests, as well as trays.

melamine trays, a lunch box and true

Lesser and Pavey

environmentally friendly bamboo items and

Japanese Designed Ceramics

T: 01322 279225

social stationery items.

E: sales@leonardo.co.uk

Lesser and Pavey

W: www.leonardo.co.uk

T: 01322 279225 E: sales@leonardo.co.uk W: www.leonardo.co.uk

British Made Mugs Rebecca Pitcher’s country living inspired pottery range is handmade by skilled craftspeople in Stoke on Trent.

The mugs get passed along several highly skilled workbenches where they are moulded, sponged, fired and finally hand decorated with screen prints made from Rebecca’s illustrations, before being packaged into recyclable gift boxes and sent out to the customer. An extremely high quality and truly British-made product which can be enjoyed for years to come.

Rebecca Pitcher E: info@rebeccapitcher.co.uk W: www.rebeccapitcher.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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Spotlight On... Jewellery & Fashion Accessories

Accessorising The Positive With socialising thankfully back in our diaries, there is an innate desire to get dressed up to the nines again, with jewellery and fashion accessories leading the way.

So, what’s trending for the coming season? PG&H spoke to some of the leading suppliers to find out, with nature, flowers and colours especially plum and dark green for bags and scarves taking the lead.

With restrictions hopefully lifted on July 19, and socialising once again the norm, on trend jewellery and fashion accessories are high on the list of ‘must haves’ for jazzing up an outfit and adding individuality.

Joma Jewellery has introduced lots of new designs and edits for AW21 featuring gold, rose gold and silver-plated jewellery, with new sentiments and charms joining the company’s best selling collection of ‘A Littles’. Unique new bracelet gift

sets, featuring pairs of bracelets presented inside gift boxes, have also been introduced.

Also brand new from Joma are Birthstone ‘A Little’ necklaces, a matching accessory to the company’s Birthstone anklets and bracelets. Real semi-precious gemstones are joined by personal traits.

“A spotlight also shines on our brand new gold-plated Positivity pendants, inspired by the energy and resilience seen across the world this year which are a beautiful, daily reminder of positive mantras to live by,” comments Joma Jewellery (and Katie Loxton’s) founder Katie Loxton. “The collection features a rotating pendant with a semi-precious stone on one side and engraved sentiment on the other.”

Above: Brand new for Autumn/Winter, Joma Jewellery’s gold plated Positivity pendants.

Left: New for Christmas: Mistletoe from Crumble & Core’s Our Language of Flowers collection.

Below left: Life Charm’s new Birth Flower 14ct gold plated range.

At Life Charms, managing director Tony Barrett reveals a new 14ct gold plated range in the company’s Birth Flower collection. The range features different flowers and their meanings, representing each month of the year, with Birth Flower relating to the Zodiac and people’s birth signs. “It's very pretty and something different that can be bought as a gift or as a self-treat. We’ll have more new ranges in the second half of the year and something new for Autumn/Winter too,” adds Tony.

Another company that will be featuring flowers for the second half of Top Jewellery Trends l Gold, rose gold and silver the year is Crumble & Core. “Our l Flowers Language of Flowers jewellery and l Nature greeting card collection was inspired Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

55

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Spotlight On... Jewellery & Fashion Accessories

Top Trend Colours l l l

Plum Khaki green Cognac

Left: The new Equilibrium two tone collection from Joe Davies.

Right: Miss Milly’s necklace selection includes a Zebra swirl necklace, and a new shell paper resin finish.

Below: New from Sea Gems’ Silver Origins collection.

by some of the great Victorian botanical artists, reminding us of the connection between British flowers and the language of friendship and love,” explains director Louise Pike. “The range has proved really popular with our customers and for Christmas 2021, we’ve decided to add the plants we associate with the festive season - mistletoe and holly - along with their meanings.”

Silver jewellery too, is riding high for Autumn/Winter. “Fashion jewellery has seen a huge trend towards silver in the first half of this year, and Autumn/Winter will see the trend picking up pace along with a trend towards two-tone jewellery, notably silver with hints of rose gold or gold,” says Joe

Davies’ buyer Mary Caputo. “Rhinestones will be creating a touch of ‘bling’ and sparking a feeling of joy.”

However, she confirms that a trend for nature remains at the forefront, “a result of our love of nature in all its glory which has been key to our coping mechanism in recent times.” The company’s Back to Nature collection features leaves and rhinestone encrusted ferns, along with an abundance of nature related pieces. Also new is Equilibrium’s polished two tone collection.

Continued on page 59

It’s In The Bag On the bag front, Katie Loxton’s AW21 collection is brimming with pieces that feature an eye-catching colour palette of mid-tone plum, olive and cognacs, which layer over core classics of taupe and blush pink to create a colourful, easy-to-wear collection.

“New everyday bags are taking centre stage, including the brand new Cara collection, based on the brand’s best selling shapes, which has been given a new modern twist,” comments Katie Loxton, the brand’s founder.

Similarly, a spotlight shines on the new crossbody bag addition to the Casey collection, which features an envelope style fastening and gold-tone bar detail.

Continuing the company’s journey to becoming more sustainable, the Katie Loxton brand is now using eco-friendly materials, with the company moving its best selling Perfect Pouch to an eco-friendly material. In addition, brand new scarves have been designed from recycled polyester. “We’re leading the way in the fashion industry as one of the first to do so,” says Katie.

Wrendale Designs’ founder and creative maestro Hannah Dale confirms that the company’s accessories collection is expanding, with the addition of more bags following the success of Wrendale’s first collection of satchel and everyday bags.

“Our new range of foldable shopping bags are super stylish and practical and can be folded into their own pocket which means you there’s no need to use a plastic bag ever again,” says Hannah.

Above: Katie Loxton’s new sustainable pouches.

Right: Wrendale Designs’ fashionable foldable shopper.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

57

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Please contact us for a trade catalogue: Tel 01460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.uk

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BUY ONLINE ONLINE BUY www.missmilly.co.uk www.missmilly.co.uk or tel: tel: 01905 01905 622 622 509 509 or

FIND FINDUS US

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Spotlight On... Jewellery & Fashion Accessories It offers a wide selection of pieces, each plated with real silver and rose gold, with bling added to many of the items.

Staying with silver, Sea Gems Cornwall is also showcasing brand new collections featuring unique silver jewellery that capture the essence of iconic landscapes, nature, wildlife and heritage. “Our Silver Origins boutique jewellery brand features contemporary handcrafted 925 sterling silver, combining high polished and textured surfaces together with gold vermeil or semiprecious stones enhancing the beauty, spirit and story of each piece,” explains the company’s Kate Evans.

“Inspired by our roots here in Cornwall, the collection features striking organic designs that include the intricate beachcomber range, delicate botanical and wildlife designs, as well as fun, whimsical motifs that celebrate moments of love and life.” Other popular Sea Gems ranges include the Celtic Lands silver collection, Mackintosh, Celtic and nature collections.

Of course, colour too, will be big news for Autumn/Winter. “For us, bold is the big

Left: Coral and Mint’s new Sentiment mint string bracelet.

theme for the coming season,” says Miss Milly’s managing director Sarah Watmore.

“With getting dressed up the norm, our Floria Collection pendant and necklace styles are very eye-catching. Alongside the traditional blues, purples and teals of the season we’ve got striking pinks and oranges shouting that we’re back. We’ve developed some new

resin finishes too,” continues Sarah. “The first is a coating of pearlescent paint giving a smooth, tactile texture, while the second uses a backing of paper, with a swirling mother of pearl design, that has the appearance of animal print.”

Also showing its colour credentials is Coral and Mint, with the company adding to its newly launched Sentiment String collection. “Keen to continue the theme of injecting colour into people’s lives, each handmade string bracelet combines a colourful enamel charm with waxed cotton cord,” explains managing director Kate Stanley. The bracelets are presented on a premium gift card with inspirational quotes, and for a personal touch, bespoke regional and local options are also available to retailers.

As always, jewellery continues to be very much a part of the product mix that gift retailers simply can’t do without, with suppliers upping the ante to reflect the latest - and diverse - Autumn/Winter trends.

Fashion Forward On the fashion accessories front, it’s all things bright and beautiful, with scarves really coming into their own over the coming months. “Abstract graphics have always been the foundation of One Button’s handwriting,” says founder Amanda Angless, “and continuing on this theme, we can’t wait to launch another fabulous Autumn/Winter 2021 collection where colour, texture, shape and material content will ensure the scarves become firm favourites.”

At Miss Milly, the company’s winter weight scarf collection is growing in response to demand. “While we maintain a solid core of traditional darker colours, as always, we look to inject colour into people’s lives, so there are oranges, reds and mustards sprinkled through the greys, navys and burgundys. Plus, our winter scarves are warm and really soft to the touch,” confirms managing director Sarah Watmore, who adds that the company’s magnetic brooches add a colourful, playful touch.

Meanwhile, trend colours for the Equilibrium fashion accessories collection from Joe Davies include fashionable dark green as well as neutrals.

“Trends in fashion accessories are taking a spirited turn with striking colours and prints key for Autumn/Winter 2021,” says buyer Mary Caputo. “The palette varies from beloved neutrals such as caramel and cream to saturated hues that include military green, hot pink and exuberant orange to give a ‘pop’ of colour.”

Continues Mary: “Equilibrium’s fashion scarves and gloves incorporate all of these trends in spades and offer an ideal way to express individuality, with chic retro kerchief scarves a ‘must have’ accessory to make a simple outfit look stylish.”

Above: A new, snuggly winter scarf design from Miss Milly.

Left: Colour aplenty from One Button.

Below: Joe Davies’ multi-functional scarves from the Equilibrium collection.

Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Tel: +44 (0)1285 656132 | Web: www.rodneyholman.co.uk | Email: info@rodneyholman.co.uk

VISIT US AT

HOME & GIFT, HARROGATE, HALL C, STAND C30 TO SEE OUR FANTASTIC NEW COLLECTIONS! *10% OFF ALL SHOW ORDERS*

PERSONALISED AND PRECIOUS JEWELLERY HA N D - M A D E F O R YOU B Y R E B E C C A

* F R E E P E R S ONA L I S AT ION SE RV IC E F OR A SP E C I F IC R A N G E F OR YOU R C U STOM E R S * Visit the newly launched website which has the facilitates for online ordering, live stock view and a simple personalised ordering service

info@by-rebecca.com | www.by-rebecca.com |

hollysilverbyrebecca

B Y R E B E C C A S T U D I O S , G A R A G E H O U S E , G R E E N R OA D, K I N R O S S K Y 1 3 8 T U, S C O T L A N D

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest Jewellery & Fashion Accessories to be showcased this month New Cara Collection Built on Katie Loxton’s best selling styles the team knows its customers love! The Cara Curve Camera Bag is it's brand-new, must have crossbody style, perfect for the girl on-the-go.

Customers will love the gorgeous finishing touches, including an embossed logo stamp to the front and gold-tone top zip fastening.

Katie Loxton T: 01295 232783 E: enquiries@katieloxton.com W: www.katieloxton.com

Bespoke jewellery Holly Silver by Rebecca is about creating bespoke personalised pieces of jewellery that convey more than just style, with unique and meaningful hand-stamped messages incorporated in each item.Visit its newly launched website which has the facility for online ordering, live stock view, and a simple personalised ordering service.

By Rebecca T: 07775 354968 E: info@by-rebecca.com W: www.by-rebecca.com

Positivity Pendants

Kimono Clips

Joma Jewellery’s Positivity Pendants are inspired by

Hot Tomato are launching these ‘must-have’

the wonderful energy and dedication it has seen in

Kimono Clips to help tame those errant

the world this year and are a beautiful daily

tresses. This classic, vintage design comes

reminder of positive mantras to live by. This gold-

in a plain, iridescent colour palette and

plated collection is finished with a rotating pendant

animal print with a shimmer finish. Fashion

with a semi-precious stone on one side and

with function makes for a winning combo

engraved sentiment on the other.

on the autumn/winter essentials list! See the

Joma Jewellery

full range at Harrogate Home & Gift: Hall

T: 01295 232782

DP1 / Stand A1.

E: enquiries@jomajewellery.com

Hot Tomato

W: www.jomajewellery.com

T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com

New Season Brooches Hot Tomato has launched some gorgeous new brooches for the coming season. Editing your own look couldn’t be easier with these beauties, whether worn solo, or in a cluster of your choosing. They make a lovely gift too - if you can bear to part with them! See the full range at Harrogate Home & Gift: Hall DP1 / Stand A1.

Hot Tomato T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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www.reevesandreeves.com

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WHAT’S NEW

Progressive Gifts & Home highlights some of the latest new products to be showcased this month Dog Themed Cane New from walking stick specialists Classic Canes is this practical folding cane patterned with popular breeds of small dogs such as terriers and dachshunds. Created from original artwork by Charlotte Gillan, it is exclusive to Classic Canes and, being height-adjustable, makes an excellent present. It is one of a collection of new folding cane patterns perfect for this season.

Personalised Christmas Tree Decoration

Classic Canes

The Personalised Memento Company (PMC) has

T: 01460 75686

launched an extensive new range for autumn/winter

E: charlotte@classiccanes.co.uk

2021, including glass baubles featuring personalised

W: www.classiccanes.co.uk

designs neatly held inside the glass bauble. Designed and assembled in its Staffordshire premises, these new gifts are hotly tipped as bestsellers for 2021. See PMC’s website for its full range of drop ship gifts.

Personalised Memento Company T: 01782 744900 E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Insulated Snack Pots Puckator’s eco-friendly lunch pots combine practicality with creativity. The lunch pots have a large 500ml capacity and allow food to be kept warm for up to six hours and cold for eight hours while also staying completely condensation free. Built with special seals to keep all of the goodness in, Puckator's lunch pots guarantee your lunch will make it through the daily commute in one piece. They also benefit from a corrosion-resistant coating and a clever fold-away handle for easy carrying.

Puckator T: 0800 0116969 E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk W: www.puckator.co.uk

Personalised Glass Jars Brand new personalised glass storage jars from the Personalised Memento Company (PMC) are a great gift idea.

Each design is personalised and ideal for pet treats, food storage or just to keep things tidy. These useful jars feature a bamboo lid and airtight seal.

Visit PMC’s website to find out how to become a trade customer of the one stop shop for personalised gifts.

Personalised Memento Company T: 01782 744900 E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk W: www.personalisedmemento.co.uk

Children’s Puzzles Dodo Observation Puzzles, available from Halilit, make the perfect gift for children aged five and up, providing both fun and education! With 80 pieces to fit together,this is the perfectly pitched ‘next step’ to challenge young children, and once built, reveals an image filled border to find and seek in the main image, such as locating natural habitats within the ‘World of Animals’ version.

Halilit T: 01254 872454 E: sales@halilit.co.uk W: www.halilit.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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DODO PUZZLEs GIRAFFE

Gifts and toys for little girls and boys

FOR HAPPY LIVELY LITTLE PEOPLE

textured pop blocks

Counting & building fun

18 mont hs to 8+ year s

Xylophone

hunny bunny stacker

baby-safe beater

North pole

Ac cu tu ra ne te d! ly

ball drop

Distributed by Halilit t: 01254 872454 e: sales@halilit.co.uk

ea s gr y to ab

Childhood is magical

coulson macleod.

Vintage GREETING CARDS

|

S TAT I O N E RY

Words |

PRINTS

|

G I F T WA R E

No Minimum Order New Catalogue Available Now Carriage Free: £150+ A wonderfully wordy range that says what you want to say without having to say it. Designed to be just a little bit different, each of the 57 designs focuses on a different interest or hobby and is filled to the brim with humour and warmth, and available in a variety of different formats, including cards, mugs, coasters and prints.

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01536 419944 coulsonmacleod-trade.com

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WHAT’S NEW

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

The Gift of Happiness The latest collection from Carrie Elspeth is about more than just colour and style.

It wants to bring smiles of happiness to the faces of your customers as they find the perfect gift in its beautiful jewellery. All lovingly handmade in Wales, its award winning jewellery comes with a range of POS options, branded packaging and is backed up by its fantastic customer service and speedy delivery times.

Get in touch now for its latest brochure.

Bath & Body Gifts Bath bombs make the perfect gift for friends and family. Puckator offers an array of

Carrie Elspeth

different options and styles, so there is something for everyone. Another huge

T: 01446 771271

positive for bath bombs is that they were created and developed with sensitive skin

E: sales@carrieelspeth.com

in mind and Puckator's bath bomb range is no exception. They are made using

W: www.carrieelspeth.com

simple ingredients and essential oils and are gluten and palm oil free. Puckator has also created bath bombs to match some of its most popular themes and collections, such as Lucky Cat, Adoramals and Botanical Gardens.

Puckator T: 0800 011 6969 E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

Nourishing Hand Care

W: www.puckator.co.uk

It’s that time of year, when the powerful soothing properties of cucumber, frankincense, cocoa butter, mango, sea kelp and aloe vera can really be absorbed into the skin.

These extracts are often described as “hydrating tonics” for cell generation and tissue healing, promoting soothing radiant skin. With such a wonderful array of inspired fragrances it’s no wonder that H2k care for your hands and appreciate how busy they are during the day. It’s for this reason, its lovingly prepared all its hand care formulations to create gentle soft skin.

H2K Skincare T: 01423 709030

Deco-inspired Diffuser Designs Ashleigh & Burwood makes new introductions to The Heritage Collection which include two stunning new Decorative Diffuser vessel designs. The latest, Art-Deco inspired glass Decorative Diffuser Vessels in a striking diamond glass design are presented in gold and purple colours, matching beautifully with new Scented Candles that feature the latest seasonal scents; Rose & Golden Leather and Blackcurrant & Cedarwood. Black Reeds, together with Diffuser Refill Fragrance in the new scents or from the complete collection of seven nostalgic fragrances, can be selected as required and used to

E: sales@h2kskincare.com

complete this statement Reed Diffuser.

W: www.h2kskincare.com

Ashleigh & Burwood T: 01932 267060

Hand Care Gifts

E: info@ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

A brand new product range from Wax Lyrical will hit the shelves this August. From the UK's

W: www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk

largest home fragrance company comes the latest in hand care. A fragranced range designed to clean, care and protect with hand wash, hand lotion and no-rinse hand cleanser - of course, all made in England. Celebrating 40 years of award winning, 100% fragranced candles and diffusers with exclusive show deals.

Wax Lyrical T: 01229 461111 E: customerservice@wax-lyrical.com W: www.waxlyrical.com

PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

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A Prickle of stunning Frith Hedgehogs!

• We offer over 200

delightful, realistic and high selling sculptures.

• Sculpted and hand made in the UK at affordable prices.

• Best Seller

and credit deals available.

To receive our full colour catalogues contact us at sales@frithsculpture.co.uk Or telephone 01666 577110 www.frithsculpture.co.uk

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Reeves & Reeves design and create the most wonderful array of jewellery collections. It works mainly in sterling silver, adding touches of 18k Gold and Rose gold vermeil and a scattering of eye popping, semi-precious stones to add the perfect detail to every unique design.

Its Nature collection encompasses many of its bestselling designs and includes bumble bees, highland cows, flowers and acorns right through to the more unusual wildebeest skull.

The Heart collection sells fantastically all year around, with a wonderful range of styles, prices and designs.

For those who love the timeless appeal of sterling silver in all its

forms our Delicate collection, Chunky Silver and Timeless classics fulfil all their desires. Its classically simple lines create some beautiful and stunning designs that will endure.

Some of its collections have a slightly more specific customer and really do fill a niche in the market. The Equestrian range is very stylish and classical in its design with a contemporary feel that makes it a highly sought after collection. Engravable jewellery still very much has its place and it has created a perfect range to suit all requirements.

Reeves & Reeves has worked hard and has great fun in creating all of its collections.

T: 01460 221630 E: heath@reevesandreeves.com www.reevesandreeves.com

We can certainly say that the last 18 months have been like no other we have ever experienced. Despite the pandemic GLB’s partners have kept up their development work and new pieces are coming into stock ready for what the team hope will be a very strong final quarter.

De Rosa has been very strong online during lockdown and reopening has certainly helped even more. The

prestige pieces have been much in demand and the new Tiger has been no exception. Herend continues to delight with pieces large and small and demand has grown three-fold in the past 18 months as customers look for something different and of quality. The team have seen a demand for Christmas ranges since April and Fitz & Floyd certainly offer something unique - fabulous models with great detail and exclusive to GLB in the UK. Goebel has also been in high demand for their festive and art inspired ranges as well as for the truly exuberant Britto collection. One well worth looking out for. Although GLB will not be at Home & Gift this year, the team would be delighted to hear from retailers looking for ranges of quality which not everyone has.

Contact the team for further details: Tel: 01538 807780 Email: simon@glb.uk.com www.globalluxurybrands.co.uk

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Best Sellers Progressive Gifts & Home asked a selection of gift retailers about the products which have been flying off their shelves this month.

Daisy Lanes, Rayleigh Medium sized gift and lifestyle shop on a high street CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Home Accessories

Parlane Living: vases; animal figurines; Broste: across the board

Quirky, fun pieces that are always on trend.

People love the simple Scandinavian lifestyle feel and look to the range.

Home Fragrancing

Heathcote & Ivory: RHS collections

Customers love the products being natural, as well as the exquisite packaging.

Customers keep coming back for more!

Right: New vases from Parlane Living.

Below right: Heathcote & Ivory’s RHS Home Grown collection.

Lily-Flame: Fairy Dust

Jewellery

Estella Bartlett: necklaces; Hot Tomato: across the board

Customers love the simplicity.

Great everyday wearable fashion pieces.

Fashion Accessories

Powder: socks; headbands; scarves; Miss Shorthair: scarves

The socks especially sell incredibly well.

Very affordable and on trend.

Greeting Cards

Five Dollar Shake

Dream Garden is especially popular for special birthdays and occasions.

Giftwrap

Glick

Customers love Paper Salad’s hummingbird range of bags and wrap.

Other Hot Hits

Jellycat: Amuseables; East of India: across the board

‘Foodie’ soft toy fun for adults and children.

Great sentiment gifting.

Greg Rose, co-owner, Maybugs, Hailsham A medium sized gift and home store in a prime high street location.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Home Accessories

Transomnia: Light Up; Widdop And Co: Salt lamps

These add a warm glow to the home for customers.

Back on trend again and selling like hot cakes.

Home Fragrancing

Inis: fragrance range; The Sussex Handmade Soap Company: soaps and bath bombs

The ‘scent of the sea’ sells well for us.

People love something that’s British made and at a good price point.

Jewellery

Shrieking Violet: flower jewellery; WishStrings: bracelets

Customers love the quirkiness and quality of these beautiful items.

An easy pick-up gift which fits into a greeting card.

Fashion Accessories

Wrendale Designs: bags and scarves; Jelly Crumble: scarves

First class quality and gorgeous designs.

Greeting Cards

Lola Designs: Wildlife Botanicals

Unique and beautifully illustrated, featuring a large rage of cute animals.

Giftwrap

The Art File: Frank Sausage Dog

Sausage dogs continue to be on trend. It’s perfect for all recipients and occasions.

Other Hot Hits

Dirty Cow: vegan chocolate

We’ve recently introduced it and it’s been a real hit with customers!

Above right: Inis Home and Linen Mist.

Right: A bunny scarf from Wrendale Designs.

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PROGRESSIVE GIFTS & HOME WORLDWIDE

On trend scarves at ‘fast fashion’ prices and no MOQ.

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Priya Aurora-Crowe, Lark London Seven gift and lifestyle shops in South London CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Home Accessories

My Doris: cushions;

Amazing feather filled cushions. The brand is ethically made and sourced, with a fantastic level of detail.

A huge range of brass and mixed wooden photo frames with excellent finishing.

Widdop and Co: photo frames

Home Fragrancing Right: My Doris velvet blush embroidered bumble bee.

Below right: Verbena and fig leaf concrete candle from Chickidee.

Chickidee: concrete candle range; NPW: Sunday Rain collection

Great price points given the candle quality and packaging. The concrete vessel can be repurposed as a planter or desk tidy.

This collection is vegan and cruelty-free.

The sleep range too, is doing extremely well. Affordable pricing.

Jewellery

Sophie Filomina: handmade on clay; Azuni London: handmade

A new brand for us. Vibrant, intricate designs; eco-friendly, cruelty free and made in the UK. Looks expensive yet is simultaneously contemporary and highly wearable.

Fashion Accessories

One Hundred Stars: headbands and scarves; Rockahula: children’s hair clips

Fantastic for any age group and sells all year round.

Exciting designs and intricate patterns.

Sells throughout the year.

Greeting Cards

James Ellis

The cards are ethically made and environmentally-friendly.

Designs are unique and sell well.

Giftwrap

Noi

Young vibrant designs. The collections are constantly changing.

Other Hot Hits

name it: kids clothing

Made from organic cotton. Affordable price range considering the quality of fabrics and designs.

Helen Crawford, co-owner, Old School Beauly, Beauly A large gift and lifestyle store in the Highlands.

CATEGORY

SUPPLIERS/RANGES

COMMENT

Home Fragrancing

Old School Beauly: own label candles and reed diffusers; Scottish Fine Soaps: Calluna

Our own label are our best selling range in the shop.

Our customers loved our online launch of the new Calluna range.

Jewellery

Carrie Elspeth: Happy;

People love this joyful Happy range designed by Carrie.

Made in the UK, customers are drawn to the more whimsical pieces.

Alex Monroe: across the board Fashion Accessories

Old School Beauly: own label scarves, hats and gloves

Customers like the intricate fair isle colourways and connection with our locality.

A new colourful range of PJs, eye masks, toiletries and make up bags made from pretty floral patterns.

Above right: Old School Beauly Highland Velvet own brand travel candle.

Right: A bracelet from Carrie Elspeth’s Happy collection.

Powell Craft: dressing gowns and co-ordinating accessories

Greeting Cards

The Art File

The Fierce and Fabulous range has been particularly popular with customers.

Giftwrap

Roger la Borde

A best seller is Moondoodle by artist Elise Hurst, which particularly resonates with grandparents buying for grandchildren.

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Best Sellers

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

HOT TOMATO T: 01225 422188 E: sales@hot-tom.com W: www.hot-tom.com

INIS FRAGRANCE T: 00 353 1 2867125 E: info@inis.co.uk W: www.inis.com

WRENDALE DESIGNS T: 01652 680253 E: info@wrendaledesigns.co.uk W: www.wrendaledesigns.co.uk

CARRIE ELSPETH T: 01446 771271 E: sales@carrieelspeth.com W: www.carrieelspeth.com

WIDDOP & CO T: 0161 6881226 E: salesenquiries@widdop.com W: www.widdop.co.uk

JAMES ELLIS T: 0117 9277667 E: info@jamesellis.com W: www.jamesellis.com

SHRIEKING VIOLET T: 0208 5219151 E: sales@flowerjewllery.com W: www.flowerjewellery.com

WISHSTRINGS T: 07988 753284 E: wishstrings@hotmail.co.uk W: www.wishstringswholesale.co.uk

MY DORIS T: 01284 247010 E: katie@mydoris.co.uk W: www.mydoris.co.uk Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide

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Creating gifts of random kindness for 40 years

Discover our extensive range of beautiful gifts RexLondonTrade.com/GiftsHome Order online | No minimum order | Free delivery options

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