Home & Gift Refreshed And Redefined

Craft To Make Its Debut At The Show

Harrogate’s Home & Gift show will be marking the start of the next sales season with a brand new Craft sector launching for 2023. The show will be returning to Harrogate from 16-19 July with a series of new initiatives. Featuring a refreshed look and feel, there will be a renewed focus on Gift and Food.

“We have lots of exciting plans and initiatives for the show in the pipeline, to include an extension of our partnership with Better Trends,” Clarion Retail’s portfolio director, Zoë Bonser, told PG&H. “Plus, with connection sitting at the heart of Home & Gift, there will be plenty of opportunities for mingling, networking and business, both on and off the show floor.” Visit www.homeandgift.co.uk

Exclusively Show A Sell Out

Exhibition space at leading housewares, gift and small domestic electricals show Exclusively has completely sold out, and earlier than ever before, say the organisers. The show takes place from 13-14 June, at London’s Business Design Centre.

“This is an exciting endorsement of Exclusively’s pivotal role in communicating new product development and the latest trends to all the key buyers and to media and influencers in the sector,” said the show’s sales director Seema Grantham. “Exclusively visitorsmultiples, independent, UK and overseas - will have the opportunity to see the very best that the housewares, small domestic electricals and gift sectors have to offer.” New exhibitors include The Silicone Straw Company and Sue Ure.

Exclusively regularly has over 140 companies and 300 brands participating and attracts the leading UK buyers in the categories it represents. It also targets international buyers, journalists, bloggers, and influencers, offering extensive opportunities for exhibitors. Visit www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk

JATC Were The King And Queen

Brick Lane, in London’s East End, was a flurry of activity as Just Around the Corner, (JATC) founded by Juls Dawson, opened its doors at the Truman Brewery for the London AW23 edition in February, with the first day coinciding with a visit by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla to a mosque on an adjoining site.

Attendance numbers at the show broke all previous records, tripling its footprint, with Juls confirming: “Our new Lifestyle and Beauty zone debuted at the show and created a lot of attention. We definitely see the zone having growth in upcoming seasons.” Visit www.justaroundthecorner.co.uk

Recycling App

The Somerset Toiletry Co. (STC) is the first UK company to partner with Bower, an innovative app designed to reward customers for sorting product packaging to enable recycling. STC customers can use the app when sorting their toiletries in return for extra points, which can be converted into cash, vouchers or charity donations.

Other recent initiatives have included bringing soap manufacturing to the UK, sourcing sustainable ingredients such as RSPO-certified palm oil and introducing recycled plastic (PCR) within the packaging.

Connect @ Autumn Fair

From this September, Connect @ Autumn Fair (3-6 September, NEC) will lead the way for the retail community, says organisers Hyve Group, fuelling thousands of prearranged buying meetings before the show opens, connecting the UK’s leading buyers and retailers with all 600+ Autumn Fair exhibitors

Over 6,000 meetings, 15 minutes long, are anticipated to take place on exhibitors’ stands. Visit www.autumnfair.com

Charity Coaster Collection

Sustainable homeware brand LIGA has launched a set of marine-inspired coasters in support of the company’s nominated charity Sea-Changers. The organic cork coasters feature pufferfish, orca, smack of Jellyfish and walrus, with LIGA donating £1 for every set sold to Sea-Changers to help raise money and awareness for the charity. (The sustainable cork coasters are made in Portugal and printed in Cornwall).

A recent project involved LIGA contributing a £10,000 donation towards innovation around the problem of ocean plastic, an issue the team at LIGA care deeply about.

“We create products from waste and believe waste needs to be seen as a solution,” comments Jennie Elderkin, founder of LIGA. The company’s work with Sea-Changers is in addition to their pledge of 1% For the Planet.

Below: Liga’s cork coaster set in support of SeaChangers.

People

l Aline Mellor (right), formerly Enesco’s head of eCommerce, has been appointed as the company’s head of marketing and e-Commerce She brings a wealth of knowledge and new ideas to her new role, and will head up the brand, product development and ecommerce teams.

Prior to joining Enesco in November 2021, Aline enjoyed an extensive career in a variety of industries, working for international organisations such as Expedia and Thomas Cook. She has a strong marketing background with a particular focus on digital and e-commerce.

l Aromatize and Straits Trading have welcomed Richard McKnight (right) to the sales team, where he will look after customers in Scotland. Richard has extensive experience within home and giftware sales and joins from The Libra Company.

l Jeff Norman (right), formerly with Heaven Sends, has joined dcuk as UK sales manager Jeff brings over 30 years gift trade experience to his new position.

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