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This Month As we go to press at the end of May with our fabulous May/June issue, we’re still on cloud 9, thanks to the inaugural The Gift Awards which took place at the glamorous Royal Lancaster hotel in London on 12 May! The much-anticipated event saw both sides of our incredible industry - retail and product - recognised and rewarded at a glittering occasion, bringing everyone together as an industry, uniting The Greats Awards, (organised by Max Publishing), and the Gift of the Year Awards, (organised by The Giftware Association). If you weren’t able to be there, turn to pages 20-23 to see our joyous party pics, and to pages 25-37 to see who this year’s winners are (if you don’t know already!). And The Gift Awards aren’t the only reason we’re on a high! The much-loved, dedicated greeting card show PG Live, organised by Max Exhibitions, will be opening its doors at London’s Business Design Centre on 7-8 June. With greeting cards an expanding sector for many gift shops, highlighted by Progressive Gift & Home’s Retail Barometer earlier this year, it’s going to be a ‘must visit’ for all strands of the retail spectrum stocking cards, with thousands of new launches at the heart of the show. (Turn to pages 38-39). Also, back at the Business Design Centre next month (14-15 June) is Exclusively, the dedicated housewares show, with more gift-led products than ever. We take a look at what’s trending in kitchen and baking gifts on pages 47-49. And with weddings back on the agenda, we also highlight some of the coolest gifts for gift shops and their customers who are looking for that something different. Turn to pages 55-57. Plus, we chat to Daniel Unworth, founder of Makasi Imports, which supplies high quality, driftwood-style wooden furniture and accessories, to see what’s trending, as well as what’s in the pipeline for the rest of the year. Turn to pages 42-43. Of course, while we love to share good news, inflation - the highest for 40 years the cost-of-living squeeze, and the dreaded word ‘recession’ are all in play. So, is it currently business as usual, or is the downturn in the economy starting to bite? We asked a cross-section of gift retailers for their views. Turn to pages 17-19 for some insightful comments, and also to pages 5-13 to discover all the most up-to-the-minute industry news. Enjoy the issue, and I looking forward to seeing lots of you at the trade shows in June!
Sue Marks, Editor
@Prog_Gifts
Inside 5-13
News
17-19 Feedback 20-23 The Gift Awards: A Night To Remember 25-37 The Gift Awards: Greats and GOTY winners 38-39 PG Live 2022 42-43 In Profile: Makasi Imports 47-49 Spotlight On... Kitchen & Baking Gifts 55-57 Spotlight On... Weddings 64-65 Best Sellers
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Above: Uniting the gift industry. Front row (l-r): Max Publishing’s Ian Hyder and Jakki Brown, and The Giftware Association’s Victoria Louise, Sarah Ward and Chris Workman. Middle row (l-r): Max Publishing’s Sue Marks and Jo Pilcher. Back row (l-r): Max Publishing’s Rob Willis and Ali Farrell. Back row (right): Craig De Souza, founder and ceo of the Creative Industry Association.
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! Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk
Sue Marks Editor
Ali Farrell Advertisement Manager
Jo Pilcher Commercial Manager
Ian Hyder Publishing Director
suem@max-publishing.co.uk
alisonf@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@maxpublishing.co.uk ISSN 2515-7523
www.max-publishing.co.uk The home of market leading trade magazines Publishers: Jacqueline Brown, Warren Lomax, Ian Hyder and Rob Willis 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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