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Gift Of The Year 2022

Home Fragrancing Finalists Announced

Six home fragrancing companies are in the running for the title of winner of the Gift of the Year’s (GOTY) home fragrancing award category. The finalists are Canova (for its Canova Sculpt), ChilliWinter Isle of Wight (for its Remedial Aromatherapy Collection); FYG (for its Memories Candle Collection); Little Beau Sheep (for its Laundry Ball & Oil); Lola Design (for its Wild Botanical Candles) and St. Eval (for its Coastal Collection, Large Pots).

The winner of the category, and all categories, will be revealed at the inaugural The Gift Awards event on 12 May, to be held at the glittering Royal Lancaster hotel alongside The Greats gift retailer awards, where the category winners will also be announced.

Online judging across all GOTY categories took place in December, with a live judging on the last day of Spring Fair in February. Among the judges were gift retailers Sam Gibbs, owner of Nest in Stoneygate, Broughton Astley and the Thurlaston Garden Centre and Tearoom; Katrina Raill, co-owner of Etcetera in Hitchin, and Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home/GiftsandHome.net.

Gift of the Year finalists are also in with a chance of winning the coveted Judges Choice award. There will also be a People’s Choice award which is voted for by the general public, open to all shortlisted products this year. For the first time, The Giftware Association has opened up the category to all shortlisted products, affording an added opportunity for a shortlisted company to become the second ever People’s Choice winner. Visit www.thegiftawards.com; www.thegiftoftheyear.co.uk; www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

Above: Among the GOTY judges were Helen Mansell-Stopher (left) and Rob Hutchins from Products of Change, and Maxine Lister, head of licensing at the Natural History Museum.

Wellbeing Sales Soar In Vegas

For Marmalade of London, the recent Las Vegas Market – Winter 2022 was a huge success for the company, with Marmalade’s sales director Helen Flook commenting: “Following the very successful launch of our new Wellbeing range in the UK, the collection made its debut at the first trade show of the year which was held in Las Vegas. We sent a whole container to our warehouse in New York, but due to the huge number of sales, we subsequently had to send a second one!”

The company will also be exhibiting at other American gift and home shows this year to include forthcoming exhibitions in Dallas, LA and Atlanta. A record number of new accounts were opened at Spring Fair too, confirmed the company. “We’re still on target to make everything we do eco-friendly and are continuing to support the work of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust,” confirmed Helen.

Left: Balance, among the candles in Marmalade of London’s Wellbeing collection.

Candlelight Celebrates 50 Years

To celebrate Candlelight’s 50th anniversary in 2022, the company has not only relaunched its iconic Vintage Amber storage jars but has also designed a range of amber candles and reed diffusers to complement the range.

“It features a refreshing Spring scent with a hint of warmth,” explains marketing manager Kate Winch. “The Wild Meadows candles are filled in apothecary style amber glass jars, complemented by a reed diffuser and room spray, to ensure full exposure of the scent throughout the home.”

Right: Amber candles complement Candlelight’s Vintage Amber storage jars.

Foray Into Home Fragrancing

Above: Turtley Creative’s founder Nicky Dawson (left) is shown at Top Drawer with Christina Brand, founder of The Candle Brand.

Nicky Dawson, a former Price’s Candles designer, is combining her wealth of experience in both the home fragrancing and greeting card sectors, by launching her own design company, Turtley Creative.

“Having spent over two decades in the greeting card industry as a designer, I’m bringing my passion for cards and greetings to my more recent product experience in the world of home fragrancing,” explains Nicky.

“Tying them together is taking me on a new adventure where I am working with leading candle brands to combine my gift knowledge with packaging and artwork ready for print. Over the past few months, I have been delighted to work with Best Kept Secrets and The Candle Brand among others in the home fragrancing market place.” Visit www.turtleycreative.co.uk

New Scottish Showroom Opens

Ashleigh & Burwood Make It A Trio

Ashleigh & Burwood recently announced the opening of a new dedicated showroom showcasing the company’s home fragrance collections in Scotland.

The showroom, which opened in midMarch, is housed at Banton Mill near Kilsyth and is operated by sales agent Bill McKechnie, who is inviting retailers to visit and sample products from Ashleigh & Burwood, as well as a selection of other well known companies in the gift and home industry.

Banton Mill is the third in a network of showrooms for Ashleigh & Burwood, joining Newby Hall in North Yorkshire and the company’s showroom at their head office, Heritage House in Surrey.

“Our showrooms are a great addition to the more traditional and established means of sharing our products with retailers,” comments managing director Andrew Nettleton. “It’s another option for retailers that allows them to explore our ranges in a more relaxed way that can be tailored to their needs.” Email: bill@wammarketing.co.uk; tel: 07919 536100.

Right: Sales agent Bill McKechnie in the new Ashleigh Burwood showroom.

Celebrating Botanic Garden

Botanic Garden, designed by the acclaimed, best-selling designer Susan Williams-Ellis in 1972, founder of Portmeirion, remains among the Group’s best selling designs, with Wax Lyrical contributing to the British classic’s 50th anniversary celebrations with a range of candles, reed diffusers and hand care products.

Based on the Portmeirion Botanic Garden sugar pots, featuring traditional Botanic Garden illustrations, both the candle and reed diffuser use the same base, with engraved wooden lids. The lid for the candle can be used as a coaster during its use, and afterwards, the container can be washed and used as a storage pot.

Blends, fragrances and vessels are all British made, and the use of coconut wax further promotes the eco and environmentally conscious message.

Above: A commemorative Botanic Garden reed diffuser from Wax Lyrical.

Neroli Trends

Neroli is currently among the most popular fragrances for gift-led greeting card-cum-jewellery and candle company Crumble & Core. “We try to match our images, such as Mother’s Day, Yoga and New Mum with fragrances, and these have worked very well,” explains director and co-founder Louise Pike. “The glass is recycled, and the candles are made from 100% natural plant wax from an ethical source. Plus, everything is vegan and eco-friendly. Our customers love the idea of different images on the candles as they make wonderful gifts for a new home, a new mum, a birthday and so on.”

Left: A New Mum candle and card from Crumble and Core.

Inspired By Australia

Coco & Glow’s new summer collection, launching shortly, is based around Australia, with founder Heather Willis wanting to showcase the beauty of the place she called home for over ten years. “I have designed two candles that encapsulate the land. One is the Native Bush Flower candle, with the second a Sea Salt & Surf candle reflecting the country’s stunning beaches.”

As a company, Coco & Glow has been eco-conscious from the early days. “Our packaging and candle jars can be recycled or upcycled, and we only use natural coconut and rapeseed wax which is sustainably sourced and a much cleaner and safer burn than the alternatives in the market.”

Left: Sea Salt & Surf from Coco & Glow.

Sebnini Partners With The Style Sisters

Luxury candle and diffuser specialists Sebnini has come on board as the home fragrance partner for lifestyle duo the Style Sisters - Gemma Lilly and Charlotte Reddington.

With over 30 years’ experience in developing bespoke products for the private label industry, Sebnini is working with the Style Sisters to curate a range of candles, reed diffusers and room sprays that are synonymous with their brand and vision. Above: The Style Sisters.