Editor’s Insight

from Gifts & Home March April 2023

by Max Publishing: Print, Digital Media + Events (London)

UNITING THE GIFT INDUSTRY

What an exciting March/April issue this is! To start with, we are delighted to fanfare the ’greatest of the great’, this year’s fabulous Greats Awards 2023 finalists! If you don’t know who they are already, the retailers are listed on pages 26-27. Plus, we’re equally delighted to fanfare the Gift of the Year 2023 product finalists on pages 36-37.

The winners of both competitions will be jointly announced on 11 May at the fabulous The Gift Awards - uniting the gift industry - with the event taking place at London’s glittering Royal Lancaster Hotel. Everyone who’s anyone in gifts will be there, so make sure you book your tickets to the hottest night on the gift industry’s calendar! Turn to page 5 for details.

And staying with both The Greats and the Gift of the Year competitions, PG&H was privileged to catch up with ‘Dragon’ Sara Davies MBE, not only making her debut as a judge of the Gift of the Year’s Design & Craft category, but also as a sponsor of The Greats Best Garden Centre category. Turn to pages 30-31 to read our fascinating interview with a true entrepreneur who told PG&H, “there’s always another star to reach for!”

On the retail front, we reveal the findings of our latest annual retail barometer, now in its 17th year, which drills down into what life was really like for gift independents in 2022. Turn to pages 17-25.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we unveil some of the patriotic, keepsake, commemorative giftware for the King’s Coronation on 6 May (turn to pages 45-47); and with Father’s Day homing into view on 18 June, we bang the drum for men’s gifts. Turn to pages 54-55. Plus, as excitement builds for dedicated greeting card show Progressive Greetings Live 2023, we bring you the full show lowdown. Turn to pages 11 and 50-51.

In addition, The Giftware Association’s ceo Sarah Ward shares her insightful thoughts on trade shows (turn to page 43); Products of Change’s Rob Hutchins highlights the launch of a brand new series of educational resources for retailers, buyers and brand owners across the gift and home sector, (turn to page 53), while Libby Holden, owner of Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh, reveals her ‘Mother’s Day Madness’. Turn to page 61. We also hear from Kam Badesha who heads up Bolsius in the UK. Turn to page 59.

Plus, for all the very latest industry news and views, turn to pages 5-17.

But first, take a look at our ultimate home fragrancing supplement, Guide To Home Fragrance, enclosed with this issue of PG&H, which has everything you need to know about an unstoppable sector that is continuing to evolve and up its game.

Enjoy both issues, and looking forward to seeing you at The Gift Awards in May!

Sue Marks, Editor

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