24 minute read
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A ‘Greats’ Day Was Had By All
Tears, Cheers & Laughter On A Sunny Afternoon
The winners of The Greats 2021 were revealed at a fabulous sunny September afternoon Awards event that took place at the historic Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London at the end of September.
Attended by the cream of the great and the good in the gift community, guests enjoyed pre-lunch drinks on the lawn, as well as a specially prepared Greats lunch, before being entertained by stand-up comedian Stuart Goldsmith.
“It was a fabulous day, with the gift industry finally able to get back together again after 19 months for a live event, so there was a lot of hugging going on!” says PG&H’s editor Sue Marks.
In her welcome speech, Sue told guests: “Our congratulations go to all the fantastic Greats finalists and winners who showed outstanding resourcefulness and resilience in challenging retail times.”
Among the winners who couldn’t hide their excitement at hearing their names called out was Nilou Noorbaksh, co-owner of Jumping Bean in Beckenham and Honor Oak. “I did a cross between a jump and dance on my way to the stage!” she laughed. For other winners, it was an emotional day, with happy tears from James Webster, owner of Josie’s in Bideford. “I felt very emotional. I didn’t expect it all, but I felt very proud.”
The Outstanding Achievement Award was awarded posthumously to Widdop & Co’s Robert ‘Bob’ Illingworth, founder of the family business, who sadly passed away in August aged 91. His eldest grandson, Stephen Illingworth, Widdop’s creative director, collected the trophy, and recalled the tremendous achievements of his grandpa, with Stephen receiving a standing ovation. (Turn to page 26).
To see the full list of Greats winners, turn to pages 20-27, and to flick through the Greats party photos, turn to pages 18 and 19 to share in all the fun of the day.
The Greats Awards are organised by Progressive Gifts & Home and GiftsandHome.net and owned by Max Publishing. Details of The Greats Awards 2022 will be announced shortly. Visit www.thegreatsawards.co.uk
Above: Max Publishing’s ‘Greats’ team, ready to welcome guests. From left to right are (back row): Sue Marks and Warren Lomax; (centre, from left to right): Jo Pilcher, Ali Farrell and Jakki Brown; (front row, from left to right): Ian Hyder and Rob Willis. Left: Greats winner Lisa Carberry, owner of Original Artists, was among the winners who made headlines in their local media.
The Greats Sponsors 2021
The Greats Awards 2021 were sponsored by the following companies (in alphabetical order): Allsorted,
Ashleigh & Burwood; Candlelight; Carte Blanche Greetings (CBG); Gift Republic; GiftsandHome.net; The Giftware Association; Gisela Graham; Harrogate Christmas & Gift; Heritage Art and Design; Joe Davies; licensingsource.net; Life Charms; Method UK; Premier Decorations; Products of Change; Progressive Gifts & Home; Progressive Greetings Live;
Progressive Greetings magazine; Spring Fair and Autumn Fair and Wrendale Designs.
A Marathon Achievement
Despite the fact that David Lorimer, co-owner of four Brocante gift and lifestyle shops in Cornwall, (a finalist at The Greats 2021), ‘hates running’, he not only completed the recent 26.2 mile London Marathon, but raised over £3,000 for national charity The Children’s Society. He took part in the Marathon with his business and life partner Keiron Cockley, revealing that they were spurred on by the cheering crowds and the historic London landmarks around every corner. “Every mile, whether it’s one or 26 is hard, which is why I need a goal to achieve,” he explained. Kieron completed the Marathon in 4 hours 20 minutes and David in 4 hours 50 minutes. “We felt a huge sense of achievement, and to raise money for the charity felt fantastic,” said David.
Left: From left to right: Jo Jenkins (left), executive director, social impact, The Children’s Society; Brocante’s Keiron Cockley and David Lorimer, and the Rev. Mike Todd, The Children Society’s fundraising development manager.
Industry NEWS
Excellent News
Jo Williams, owner of Joco Interiors in Nuneaton, was recently voted as overall winner of the NoW Network Awards Service in Excellence category, held in Coventry. Jo was shortlisted as a finalist in two other categories and also received a commendation in the Locked Up to Looked Up Award.
Below: The Service in Excellence Award won by Jo Williams.
Mooch Opens In Fulham
Greats 2021 finalist Mooch, which has three shops in Ealing, West London, recently opened a fourth branch in trendy Fulham. Co-owner Sandra O’Connell explained that it was driven by customer demand. “Customers were always coming into our Ealing gift stores and saying ‘if only we had a shop like this in Fulham’, so we’ve opened one!”
Above: The new Mooch gift shop in Fulham.
Jumping Bean Jumps Into Dulwich
The owners of newly crowned Greats’ winner Jumping Bean - winner of the Independent Gift Retailer of the Year - London category, will be adding to their award winning gift shop portfolio in Beckenham and Honor Oak with a third Jumping Bean gift outlet.
Located in Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, and scheduled to open this month, co-owners Nilou Noorbaksh and Terry Newton explained: “We feel that now is the time for independents. Given that lockdown happened, and the tremendous support we received locally, we decided we wanted to open another shop in an area close to where we are already part of the community.”
Below: Jumping Bean will be opening a third shop in East Dulwich this month.
Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
Mixed Feelings From Gift Indies
The 50% cut in business rates, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Autumn Statement on October 27, will be a massive boost to the retail sector, one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. The discount, up to a maximum of £1110,000, makes it the biggest single year cut to business rates in 30 years.
Other measures announced include that next year's planned increase in the business rates multiplier will be cancelled; making business rates fairer and timelier, with three year evaluations from 2023; the introduction of investment relief for green technologies for 12 months, along with new rates improvement relief from 2023, where businesses will pay no extra business rates on improvements made to a property.
Views on the news: “For a business such as ours which, in the towns where we trade, deliberately occupy the very best prime sites we can acquire, this is as good a move as we could reasonably have hoped for,” stated Richard Barker, owner of four Cilla & Camilla gift, fashion, homewares and cookshop stores in Beaminster, Bridport and Sherborne. “It's worth well in excess of £25,000 to us in the coming year.” He continued: “the discount provides short-term support as we rebuild post-Covid and the other measures announced show a willingness to address the inherent inequity of the current non-domestic rating system.” However, some retailers had mixed feelings. "The package of measures is welcome news, but the increase in the minimum wage does sour it a little,” pointed out Greg Rose, co-owner of Maybugs in Hailsham and Eastbourne. “We pride ourselves in already paying our staff at least £9.50, however as this is now the new minimum rate, we will have to look at if we increase our standard rate further to ensure we can attract and retain the best quality of employee."
Cathy Frost, owner of LoveOne in Ipswich, also had reservations. “I’m pleased to see some good news with respect to business rates, but disappointed not to see a commitment for a fundamental review of the system. Time will tell whether this budget will impact on consumer spend, which at this moment is my biggest worry in the run up to Christmas.”
Andrew Goodacre, ceo of the British Independent Retail Association (Bira) also voiced his concerns. "The devil is in the detail,” he stated. "The rates bill for this year was reduced to 25% of normal levels in response to Covid. Therefore, reducing rates by 50% next year is, in fact, a 100% increase on what businesses are actually paying. On top of everything else, this will be a challenge. We believe more could have been done, considering all the other inflationbusting increases such as wages, energy, supply chain, etc.” While he welcomed the use of rates relief to encourage investment in properties and the shorter time periods between rates reviews, reduced from five years to three years, he stressed that 2022 will more about survival than investment. “It will be a really difficult year for the high street and we hoped for more recognition to protect local communities, jobs and livelihoods.”
Top: Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed a 50% business rates discount. Above left: Cathy Frost, owner, LoveOne.
B&LLAs Award Winners
The Van Gogh Stationery and Gifting Collection from Blueprint Stationery won the Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product or Range category at The B&LLAs 2021 industry awards, held last month at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London. The winner of the Best Brand Licensed Home Décor Product or Range was Scion Living x Next from Next.
The event, organised by Max Publishing, was hosted by comedian Dom Joly, and was attended by 400 retailers, licensees and brand owners.
Above: The B&LLAs winners are shown on stage.
Industry NEWS
Small Business Saturday Roadshow
Ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday event, taking place at the beginning of December, a nationwide zero emissions tour is currently underway. The focus is on supporting six million small businesses across the UK, with the tour - which started in Glasgow on 31 October, the first day of COP26 - on the road for a month, finishing in London slightly ahead of Small Business Saturday on 4 December.
For the first time, the tour will be delivering a hybrid format of online and in person activity. This will include virtual workshops, webinars and mentoring, covering a range of small business topics, as well as on the ground visits and livestreamed interviews with local businesses in cities including Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, as well as coastal towns, such Whitley Bay and rural Hereford. Retailers can book one-to-one mentoring sessions by visiting the My Business section at www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
The campaign has grown significantly each year with a record £1.1bn spent with small businesses on Small Business Saturday in 2020, and 15.4m people choosing to shop with independents.
Above: Tim Rundle-Wood, owner of natural scent gift shop Twoodle in Shoreditch is among Small Business Saturday’s Small Biz 100 stars.
BLE Puts The Spotlight On Sustainability
November’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) is partnering with Products of Change to spotlight sustainability in a new section at this year’s event.
The BLE Sustainability Activation, in partnership with Products of Change, will be front and centre on the show floor, featuring six unique zones – Fashion Innovation, Material Innovation, Retail Innovation, Product Innovation, Brands of Social Change and Products of Change free 1-2-1 Clinics - to inspire the industry towards a more sustainable future.
The zones will highlight the inroads that brands, retailers and manufacturers are already making in fashion, product, material and retail innovation, as well as the impact this can have on the global licensing industry, consumers and beyond.
BLE returns to London’s ExCeL from 17-19 November, followed by an online event from 30 November - 1 December. See Licensed Giftware on pages 47-49. Visit www.brandlicensing.eu
Global Gold For Ian Snow
Company Triumphs At Global Good Awards
Independent ethical brand Ian Snow has been awarded prestigious gold and bronze medals at the 2021 Global Good Awards, designed to celebrate the continuing commitment by businesses to act responsibly and to support people, the planet and the economy.
The company was awarded a gold medal in the category Waste Reduction and Minimalisation category, (alongside DPD), and joint bronze in the Global Good SME of the Year category. The brand was also honoured to be nominated as a finalist in the COVID Crisis Champions category for its efforts in response to the March 2020 lockdown in India, where Ian Snow fundraised and donated over £40,000 - equating to over 200,000 meals for five makeshift kitchens in Jaipur - to help communities in need of support when their means of making a living was taken away. “We are absolutely thrilled to have achieved gold and bronze awards, as well as a finalist position, alongside such huge brand names as DPD, ITV, NatWest and Santander, across three very prestigious categories,” commented Daisy Snow, director of Ian Snow. “It's fantastic to have the work we do as a smaller brand recognised in a global award like this.”
Top: The team from Ian Snow with the company’s gold award. Daisy Snow proudly holds the trophy.
GOTY Closing Date
With a mid-December closing date, there’s still time to enter the Gift of the Year Awards, organised by The Giftware Association (GA). “The accolade opens doors and raises a company’s business profile to an audience that matters - the buyers and retailers who judge the competition,” says the GA’s marketing and PR manager Chris Workman.
“We are excited to welcome new products and to see what everyone has been hard at work on during the various lockdowns,” he continues. “In addition, we are looking forward to discovering who will be crowned winner of the Judges Choice award, as well as the People’s Choice category, which was introduced for the first time last year.”
There will be two rounds of judging - online in December, and in person in January 2022.
To enter, visit www.giftoftheyear.co.uk or email chris.workman@ga-uk.org
A Grand Fundraiser
British artisan designer Julie Dodsworth has created a bespoke range of Shaun the Sheep giftware for Bristol Children’s Hospital’s The Grand Appeal. It features a unique take on Shaun the Sheep, and an original design and pattern.
The range, which is eco and vegan friendly, as well as Made in Britain, includes grow your own seed pots; grow your own letterbox gifts; palm oil free soap; a soya wax candle and glass tea lights as well as a reed diffuser. “Playing our part in such a worthwhile charity is a privilege and an honour to serve,” comments Julie.
Left: Julie Dodsworth’s Shaun the Sheep giftware.
Busy Autumn Fair
A busy, buzzy Autumn Fair brought the gift, home and fashion industries back together again for four days that saw retailers out in force and exhibitors confirming that buyers were happy to place orders at the show.
“To our great delight, the NEC was buzzing with colour and innovation, with exhibitors and retailers trading with excitement and hope, and the show refreshing and refuelling the high street,” commented Julie Driscoll, managing director of Retail, Fashion & Digital at Hyve Group. “We were overwhelmed by the positive comments from our exhibitors across the show.”
Over 400 curated, bespoke meetings took place, between buyers and exhibitors, with feedback “overwhelmingly positive,” said Julie. “Now, we can’t wait until February’s Spring Fair!”
Above: Julie Driscoll and event director Simon Lau at Autumn Fair.
Industry NEWS
Top Trends Showcased At Top Drawer
Four top trends for 2022 - Tobacco Brown, Monochrome Magic, Lavender and Modern Folk - were unveiled at Top Drawer in September, featuring exhibitors’ products that ranged from home fragrancing, bath and body, jewellery, interiors and ceramics to fashion accessories, glassware, greeting cards and giftwrap.
“It was a really successful three days,” confirmed Top Drawer’s show director Russell Rule. “We re-united the industry in a safe, secure environment and received extremely positive feedback from key exhibitors and retailers.”
Below: Monochrome Magic was among the key trends at Top Drawer.
Do What You Love, Love What You Do
Small business champion Holly Tucker MBE, co-founder of Notonthehighstreet.com, and founder of Holly & Co, was the keynote speaker at Top Drawer in September, bringing colour and passion to the RetailFest stage during an informal, inspiring and powerful conversation with life coach Tiwalola Ogunlesi, founder of Confident and Killing It.
Speaking to a packed house, Holly stressed that small businesses in particular need to connect to their community to be successful. “There’s something about connecting with other people and creating something together,” she stated. “If you do interesting things, interesting things will happen to you. Even if something scares me I do it anyway because something exciting might happen.”
Earlier this year, Holly’s book Do What You Love, Love What You Do became a Sunday Times best seller, with Holly signing copies for her fans at Top Drawer.
Below: Holly Tucker MBE, (left), in conversation with Tiwalola Ogunlesi, founder of Confident and Killing It.
Ongoing Expansion At Gallery Direct
Below: The exterior of Gallery Direct’s northern distribution hub OrionOne.
A New Northern Distribution Hub Is Underway
The Gallery Direct Group has secured a long-term lease on the newly built OrionOne warehouse at Markham Vale near Chesterfield, an established distribution hub located at Junction 29A on the East Midlands, South Yorkshire border.
This vast new facility, with 14 metre eaves, 21 docking doors and spaces for 39 trailers, boasts over 224,000 sq ft of space, enough to house 35,000 pallets. Fitout work, including racking, electrical and office accommodation, will start immediately. It will serve as Gallery’s northern packing, warehousing, and distribution hub, with enough space to accommodate the ongoing expansion of the business. The property also offers space for the development of 30,000 sq ft of state-of-theart showrooms, over three floors, for client reviews and meetings.
“The new property, combined with our southern warehouse and head office, further improves our distribution and operational capacity,” comments managing director Peter Delaney. “We will be able to serve 96% of our clients’ requirements with one day delivery times, utilising our own home distribution fleet.”
The company will be expanding Gallery’s established home interiors categories, including furniture, lighting, wall décor and textiles, as well as the newer developments in outdoor living, home accessories and Christmas.
Sad Loss
Robert ‘Bob’ Illingworth (1930 – 2021)
It was with great sadness that Widdop & Co’s Illingworth family announced the passing of Robert ‘Bob’ Illingworth on 23 August 2021, aged 91.
“Retiring officially in 1990, aged 60, he never stopped working at Widdop and remained the company’s chairman until November 2020, watching with pride as his sons and grandsons took the business he grew from strength to strength.
“Bob was the sole member of the Widdop Bingham third generation in the family business, which was founded by his grandfather, William Widdop, in 1883. He joined the very small Widdop business in Manchester around the time of his marriage in 1956, and became an exemplary pioneer in the giftware trade, from attendance at the very first Spring and Autumn Fairs to the installation of the first computer in the industry, and much celebrated paper catalogues. He expanded the business, taking over four other older businesses, until Widdop’s settled and expanded in Chadderton on the outskirts of Manchester. He became the heart of an incredible growth story that has continued today. “For so many years, he was the heartbeat of this business and the energy behind much of what this company does today. He was the root of our family’s values, an old school leader who epitomised everything the business is and will be in future, and all of us owe him so much for the opportunities we have today.” Bob is survived by his wife Jean, his four sons, 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Above: Robert ‘Bob’ Illingworth. Left: Bob with three of his sons, from left to right: Stuart, Andrew and Chris.
Amscan Acquires Ginger Ray
Worldwide designer, manufacturer, distributor and omnichannel retailer of party products and supplies, Amscan International, has acquired celebrations brand Ginger Ray, with the move marking an important step in the group’s ambitious strategic growth plans.
“Ben Spence and the Ginger Ray team have developed an industry leading brand and we believe that with a combination of our mutual strengths we can help the brand develop further,” comments Gary Panons, ceo, Amscan International.
Added Ginger Ray’s managing director Ben Spence: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Amscan International. We believe that access to the global network and capabilities of Amscan International will enable us to fully focus on what we do best - crating beautiful products for our customers.”
Ginger Ray will continue to operate under its own trading name and the existing Ginger Ray team, including managing director Ben Spence, will continue in their current roles.
Industry NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF
l Half Moon Bay’s May The Thoughts Be With You giftware collection is helping to raise funds for the Student Minds mental health charity.
Right: Half Moon Bay’s May The Thoughts Be With You giftware.
l Sustainable stationery company VENT for Change is supporting Cycle of Good’s Krizevac school’s project in Malawi, recently sending out a consignment of hundreds of notebooks for school children.
Right: Schoolchildren in Malawai.
l Scottish gift and housewares company Selbrae House has unveiled a new trade website - www.selbraehouse.co.uk - with over 60 new products launched for AW 21.
l Sarwat Jaleel, founder of Kushboo Soaps, was interviewed on Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday programme by presenters the Revered Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad.
PEOPLE
l Jak Kelly-O’Donnell (right) has been appointed sales
manager of Scotland’s Trade
Fairs, organised by Springboard Events. She spent eight years in sales for The Wedding Show and has also worked on the Baby Show.
John Lewis Reveals Survey Findings
The findings of John Lewis & Partners’ annual report, which analyses Britain’s shopping habits over the past year, has revealed that the pandemic has significantly changed the way people shop, live and work. More people are socialising with friends at home, with gardens becoming extensions of kitchens and dining rooms, driving sales of garden products and garden accessories.
The report confirms that the lockdowns have changed the way people are shopping. John Lewis’ website currently accounts for between 60% and 70% of sales, up from 40% before the pandemic.
Below: Homes and gardens have become a focus.
New Era For Wax Lyrical
New Factory Is Up And Running
Wax Lyrical has completed the build of its new factory in Lindal-in-Furness, with owners Portmeirion Group investing £1.5m to build the new production facility which has expanded capabilities at the Cumbria plant, heralding a new era. The investment reflects Portmeirion’s longer term plans for growth.
“This is a huge undertaking and I could not be prouder of the design, science, engineering, production and office teams who made this possible,” states chief executive Jacqui Gale MBE. “Beauty is a new sector for Wax Lyrical, but we have the expertise in our state-ofthe-art lab and a very experienced team throughout the company.” The first products are about hand care and include a hydrating wash, moisturising lotion and a fragranced norinse hand cleanser.
Continued Jacqui: “By repurposing and restructuring our plant, we’ve built a new factory to accommodate six, 50 tonne storage tanks, several 36 tonne mixing tanks and a filling, labelling and finishing line. We’ve re-trained staff and restructured to maintain a competitive business in a financially difficult decade.”
Above: Wax Lyrical’s chief executive Jacqui Gale MBE pressed the button to commence manufacture. Above: The company’s Sunflower hand care range
Hale Events Celebrates 30 Years
Hale Events, which organises coastal and tourist gift and home show Giving & Living in Exeter, is celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary. "It’s been two very challenging years for the events sector,” says managing director Mike Anderson, "but we are now planning our events with confidence, and companies are booking stands because they are feeling the same way. We all have to get on with it!"
With staycationers providing a welcome boost for retailers in coastal areas and tourist hot spots during the summer, there will be two Giving & Living shows in 2022 - one physical and the other online. The live show will be back at its usual home of Westpoint, Exeter, from January 16-18, with a second virtual show, Giving & Living ONLINE, taking place from May 9-11.
Both shows will be showcasing a wide range of gifts and homeware, with a focus on giftware for the coastal and UK tourism markets. Visit givingliving.co.uk
Right: The Hale Events team celebrating the company’s big 3-0.
Ambiente’s Top Trends For 2022 +
According to Ambiente’s trends forecasters studio Stiburo bora.herke.palmisano, visionary ideas, sustainability and an appreciation for traditions will shape people’s everyday life in 2022 and beyond, with the trends offering an overview of giving, living and dining. "After a long period in a state of emergency, we are ready for a new beginning,” says Philipp Ferger, vice president Consumer Goods Fairs at Messe Frankfurt. “The last one and a half years have fundamentally changed our social and economic behaviour, and this is reflected in Ambiente’s Trends 22+.”
The three forecasts - Remedy Solving + clearing; Identity Knowing + making, and Improving + liberating - build on previous themes, with the + sign reflecting that the path is unfinished. In the Ambiente trends area, studio Stilburo will be selecting exhibitors’ products reflecting the three themes, making the trends tangible to buyers.
Ambiente takes place from 11-15 February 2022. Visit www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com; www.ambiente-trends.com Above: Remedy Solving + clearing is among the trends at Ambiente 2022.
Dunelm’s Gift Of Giving
Following on from a hugely successful Delivering Joy Christmas campaign last year - which saw Dunelm donate 18,000 gifts to the vulnerable, and those who wouldn’t normally receive a present on Christmas Day - the retailer is again asking kind-hearted locals to donate a gift with a minimum value of £10.
Those visiting a Dunelm store will find tags on a Christmas tree, each representing a person in the community and their interests, enabling people to choose who they give the gift to. Gift bags can be filled with products from anywhere. In addition to customer donations, Dunelm will be giving £17,500 worth of gifts across its 175 stores, with teams preparing and delivering the gifts to ensure that they arrive in time for Christmas. Recipients include local schools, care homes and refuges.
Industry NEWS
Moda Debuts At Spring Fair
Following on from a successful Autumn Fair, Moda will be making its debut at Spring Fair, which takes place from 6-9 February, 2022. The sector will feature womenswear, jewellery, accessories and footwear, as well as sustainable UK and global brands, and will incorporate Jewellery & Watch, encouraging crossover buying opportunities, say organisers the Hyve Group.
To date, Moda has seen a 90% rebook, to include brands such as Jayley, Goose Island and Perfection Clothing.
With a desire for sustainable and ethically sourced brands continuing to grow, there will be new designs from returning brands Nomads, Zelly and Earth Squared. The show will also be welcoming Pretty Pink Jewellery, which uses only raw materials ethically sourced from Brazilian cooperatives in the Amazon rainforest.
Turkish brands will also be returning, including ready to wear, contemporary brand Hukka Design and Jus De Pommes. Moda’s VIP Programme will also take place.Visit www.springfair.com; www.moda-uk.com
Above: Bags of colour from Moda exhibitor Jayley.
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring
Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring will be back in person at the SEC in Glasgow from 23-25 January 2022. The show follows on from the successful Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn in September. Over 500 exhibitors will showcase their products, ranging from gifts to crafts and jewellery to textiles.
Returning to the January show will be the Best Product Awards, workshops and talks from experts, as well as the Launch Gallery and Craft Gallery.
In addition, Scotland’s Trade Fair Online is keeping suppliers and retailers in touch with an online product directory and live product sessions. Visit www.springboardevents.com
