Modern Retail: Gift Suppliers Guide 2023

GIFT SUPPLIERS GUIDE 2023

Introduction

For any retailer, the process of choosing a supplier is of course a fundamental decision for your business. Because ultimately, sourcing good stock is essential if you are going to delight your customers and build a captivating range.

The aim of this guide is to shine a light on a wide range of giftware suppliers throughout the UK, to help inform your buying decisions. When working with a gift supplier, you’ll want to consider quality and cost, of course, but other factors such as sustainability and reliability should inform your decision too.

Once you have shortlisted potential suppliers from this guide, feel free to ask for further information and testimonials to help inform your decision. A good supplier will be happy to help.

We hope this guide goes some way towards informing your next giftware purchasing decision. If you have any feedback on the guide, we’d love to hear from you - please feel free to email feedback@modernretail.co.uk

Credits Thanks

Managing Editor

Rob Gamage - rob@modernretail.co.uk

Content Editor

Holly Worthington - holly@modernretail.co.uk

Business Development Manager

Emma Mjekiqi - emma@modernretail.co.uk

Modern Retail is published by Considered Digital Ltd (Registered Company Number 12684643).

Registered office address: 39 The Metro Centre, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, WD18 9SB.

Many thanks to all those companies who have contributed to this publication, helping us to compile what we hope is a useful and informative guide! Please send any comments or suggestions to rob@modernretail.co.uk.

Index

Beauty & Wellbeing

Ancient Wisdom

LH Remedies

Cards & Stationery

She Said It Tihara Smith

Collectables & Novelty

Ancient Wisdom Two Spoons

Design & Craft

Tihara Smith Two Spoons Frafra Baskets Stitching Me Softly

Fashion & Jewellery

Ancient Wisdom Tihara Smith Banyan Jewellery Britdeals CME Leicester Cora + Spink Henry Daniel Roma Reeves & Reeves Stitching Me Softly

Festive & Seasonal

24 32 4 34

Tihara Smith Two Spoons Geko Products Two Spoons Spice Inspired Playpress Toys Smart Toys & Games

Food & Drink Games & Toys

32 34 12 22

4 18 4 32 5 6 8 10 16 22 30

Home & Garden

Ancient Wisdom Tihara Smith Frafra Baskets Britdeals Geko Products Spice Inspired Wild Wood Gifts

Tech & Gadgets

Britdeals Smart Toys & Games Wild Wood Gifts

32 34 15 34 28 20 26 6 26 36

4 32 12 6 15 28 36

Ancient Wisdom Wholesale Giftware

At Ancient Wisdom we are dedicated to bringing you the best in wholesale giftware, delighting your customers and helping your retail business grow.

We’re the only wholesaler that imports hand-crafted giftware directly from India, Indonesia & China - AND manufactures Aromatherapy, Home Fragrance Items and Bathroom Gifts in our UK factory in Sheffield.

With offices, warehouses and committed staff across Asia, with distribution warehouses in Slovakia and Spain, we are passionate about giftware and have been since 1995. Over 70,000 retailers across the world are registered and benefit from trading with us.

Take part in this journey too, register here to see our prices and find out more about Ancient Wisdom Wholesale Gifware.

BEAUTY & WELLBEING COLLECTABLES & NOVELTY

FASHION & JEWELLERY HOME & GARDEN

Banyan Jewellery

FASHION & JEWELLERY

www.banyanjewellery.co.uk | 01626437240

Banyan Jewellery is a fresh and vibrant design studio based in Devon and specialising in handcrafted silver and gold jewellery. Each piece is designed by founder Yaniv Zalman with a special focus on elegant form, colour and detail. We work with a small team of silversmiths to execute each piece to our exacting standards, hand-selecting the best gemstones to tell our story. The new collection has some of our most striking designs to date and we are excited to share them with you.

Banyan Jewellery has been supplying our loyal and happy customers with ever-evolving collections for over 20 years. Please get in touch and we will be delighted to introduce you to our world.

FASHION

BritDeals stands out as the most innovative and the fastest-developing online liquidation and surplus-inventory B2B platform; catering to buying groups of all sizes, from small business owners to big retailers. Giving buyers access to the best products on the market while providing essential business tools and exceptional customer service to further grow their business.

With internet sales breaking new records, our journey is not over. We will continue to develop our platform to work in favour of our customers.

CME Leicester Ltd

YOUR EXPERT JEWELLERY PARTNER

You might not know us yet but we are CME, one of the leading importers of justfor-trade sterling silver jewellery in the UK and we’ve been helping retailers large and small curate the perfect collections for their customers for over 40 years. We offer exceptional, non-branded jewellery that typically yields a more significant profit margin than branded products. Our range is extensive, from modern trendled styles to traditional, heritage-inspired pieces.

6 REASONS TO CHOOSE CME

• A range of over 5,000 products to suit any style, season or customer with 100s of new products added each year

• Competitive prices with good profit potential, exclusively for trade with no route to consumer

• Small minimum orders

• Access to trend and industry insights and friendly, professional support

• We work with some customers to craft bespoke items to suit their unique style and vision.

• Members of the National Association of Jewellers, all our products comply with the guidelines set by the Responsible Jewellery Council and are sourced with ethical and environmental standards in mind

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“For us, it’s the quality of the products that stands out. The range is wide and Drew is always open to new ideas if we are looking for something that isn’t at first evident in the range. The prices are always very competitive”. - Sam

ARE YOU READY TO FIND OUT MORE?

Talk to us about creating your own unique range that reflects your brand, meets your margins and drives sales. We can’t wait to meet you.

LET’S TALK

It is Cora + Spink’s goal to make longlasting, robust and ethically-made backpacks.

We have consistently stood up to a world that has favoured new over better, fast over slow. With single-minded determination only a small business can muster we have not only designed and made backpacks that last and cross generations but we have striven to support every worker, supplier and customer with our very best.

Above all of this is our ethos to ensure everyone who touches a C+S product is happy.

History

In 2004 as part of his undergraduate degree, Tim submitted a paper to the University of Birmingham entitled “The Environmental Impact of the Fashion Industry”, the paper explored the unsustainable nature of clothing production; specifically outlined changes in

the production process that could reduce environmental impact.

The paper was the spark that would eventually become Cora + Spink, from the use of reclaimed/recycled yarns and fabrics, to pattern design that reduced waste.

Cora + Spink was launched fully in November 2014, with the first collection available in 2015. Funded from selling the content of the family’s garden shed, savings and a lucky credit card, the first samples were developed, produced and sold.

Design

Good design should consider all aspects of the product. For Cora + Spink this means the people who make the product are as important as the canvas, the canvas is as important as the packaging and the person who stitches the lining is equal to the photographer.

In practical terms, every Cora + Spink backpack is designed around a job, and how it can make that job easier, happier or better. There are no rules to good design, but by sticking to the company ethos, and working with good people we think the backpacks we make are practical, simple and utilitarian (sometimes).

Shopping baskets, beach baskets, and picnic baskets; storage and laundry baskets; Moses and baby changing baskets; dog and cat baskets; fans and tableware, all sustainably, ethically, and expertly made in Bolgatanga, Ghana. A labour of love, our mission is to provide high-quality woven products to you while bringing about meaningful change for our weavers.

Our baskets are made from locally grown Veta Vera grass (also known as elephant grass), a grass renowned for its strength and durability. The soft and comfortable handles are natural goat leather made by tanners in the same Bolga region. Each basket is handmade, with each weaver taking charge of its colour and pattern, making every basket unique.

Having lived and worked in Ghana for nearly a decade, we know what makes businesses in the region sustainable and transformative. We do not work with a middleman. We work directly and closely with sourcer Pokka Daa and our weaving community to improve product quality and access to the market and unlock higher financial returns for them. Alongside the 40% of sales our weavers receive, Frafra Baskets is also supporting the construction of an indoor weaving space, providing wheelchairs for older weavers, and sourcing improved colour dyes.

We encourage our stockists to pre-order. This is to ensure we have what you want during busy periods, but primarily to promote a more sustainable system for our weavers and the environment. Although the baskets are made entirely from natural materials, making them a perfect alternative to plastic bags and other un-eco-friendly homeware, we do everything possible to avoid waste from over-production and excess energy consumption through shipping too much stock.

Sign up to our Orderspace to see a full range of products, prices, and stock levels. As we work directly with our weavers, we can also make custom designs that would be exclusive to you.

Product Sourcing Tips

MODERN RETAIL ARTICLE

1. Understand Your Market

Use existing sales data, market research, social media listening and any studies you can find to work out which category of product could sell best to your intended audience.

2. Find Inspiration Online

Look online for popular products, making sure product ideas align with your target market. Check out marketplaces, social media and competitors’ product ranges.

3. Narrow Down Your Search

Finetune the types of products that you are looking to source by asking key questions which could impact your ability to sell each item:

• Is it shippable? An ideal item will be small, light and not breakable.

• Is it sourceable? The products that you have in mind must be available to purchase in the quantities that you need without having stock supply issues.

• Is it seasonal? Think about whether a product is likely to have year-round sales, or just seasonal.

4. Understand Your Product’s Potential

Check your criteria to make sure your shortlisted products are likely to sell in line with your needs. Use your own sales data

and other sources such as Amazon sales history and competitor research.

5. Calculate Your Profit Margin

Before placing an order, it is essential to know how profitable a potential product could be. Factor in: costs to purchase, import, receive and ship to customers, plus warehousing, storage, picking, packing, handling and any other fees e.g. FBA charges.

6. Finalise Your Product Choice

Based on your research, you should finalise the product that you would like to stock. Include notes on the quantity, type of product and specifications such as colour, size etc.

7. Assess Potential Suppliers

Deep research your preferred supplier prospects to avoid committing to a supplier that cannot fulfil your requirements.

8. Ask For Samples

The best way to ensure you’re happy with stock and test quality is to request samples. Touch and inspect the product in person and assess the delivery experience.

9. Do A Trial Run

Once you know you like a specific supplier’s products, it’s time to do a trial run - order a smaller number of units, so

you can run a test online or in specific stores.

10. Evaluate Suppliers & Products

Following the trial run, it’s the perfect time to look at the overall experience: did products meet your expectations? Are you happy with the service from suppliers?

11. Give Honest Feedback

Having open communication with suppliers is essential to make the relationship work for both parties. If there are any issues that need resolving, let the supplier know and see if a resolution can be found.

12. Shortlist Your Long-Term Suppliers

Even when you’ve decided which suppliers to work with, it’s important to keep a list of alternatives that could also meet your needs. By having a list of backup suppliers, you can pivot if needed to make sure customer expectations, pricing and quality standards are met.

Sourcing products can be straightforward when you know what’s required. Follow these 12 tips to improve your product sourcing strategy.

Contributor:

Holly Worthington

Geko Products Ltd

Geko Products Wholesale is a UK based supplier of designer homewares including storage boxes, artificial plants, furniture, home decor and giftware.

We supply shops and traders both online and traditional.

We have a huge range of products available with exclusive offers and new products each season.

Henry Daniel Roma

Founded in 2018, Henry Daniel Fashion’s core philosophy is the manufacture and sale of stylish, unique and versatile luxury collections.

Daniel, a Milan-based designer born in 1985, inherited his grandfather’s love for fashion and evolved it with his highly creative and original style.

A lover of the Italian fashion industry, its materials and creative designs, he completed his studies at various fashion schools in Milano and Firenze, studying fashion and accessory design.

Henry Daniel Roma have welcomed a new co-creative director in Anna Colucci. Her ideas and Italian taste have helped the brand grow.

With Showrooms in Milano, Roma and London.

From our unique clean fragrances to nourishing skin products, we are constantly working on bringing Zen to everyone around us.

As we continue to expand, we aim to move towards more sustainable packaging, all the while expanding the range.

We are always looking for new and innovative ways to expand and better ourselves to provide a product unmatched by its competitors.

Playpress Toys

GAMES & TOYS

PlayPress is a buildable playset for ages 4 and up, made in the UK.

We believe in the power of planet-friendly, hands-on fun! Our inventive sets can be pressed out, built up, and played with time and time again.

Hands-on play: educational, creative - and fun!

PlayPress is about exploring new possibilities. We take care to make our toys inclusive. They’re designed to let children play creatively while helping them develop key motor and cognitive reasoning skills.

Portable - reusable - affordable.

Fun for kids, kind to the planet.

Printing & binding

We use food-safe water-based inks and glue that are vegan, biodegradable and ocean-friendly.

Sustainable

We use materials that are fully recyclable and 100% biodegradable.

Board & paper

The fibres for our Playboard are bleachfree and sourced from sustainably managed forests in Finland.

Manufacturing & transport

Our toys conform to European standards and are locally manufactured in the UK to minimise air miles.

Reeves & Reeves

FASHION & JEWELLERY

www.reevesandreeves.com

Reeves & Reeves design and create an array of stunning and exclusive jewellery collections. Based in the heart of the Dorset countryside, the husband and wife team are passionate about jewellery and their enduring designs reflect much of what is around them, from the fields and woods to the Jurassic Coast. Their jewellery is contemporary in style with a unique fashion edge, at very competitive prices and superb attention to both detail and quality. Heath, Caroline and their talented team have an innovative creative ability and empathy with their customers, which is a very unique selling point.

They utilise a charming combination of sterling silver, 18ct yellow and Rose gold vermeil with accents of colour through the use of hand-picked stones and exquisite enamel detail.

The varied collections range from the sleek and modern Stellar collection to imaginative animals and plant life designs,

many with an elegant modern twist, evoking favourite memories from the past and creating new ones for the future. The Reeves & Reeves team really do love what they create and know that you will too.

They can also create designs for you that are exclusive. There are minimum order quantities that apply and they help you through the whole design-to-manufacture process.

Reeves & Reeves design and create an array of stunning and exclusive jewellery collections.

Based in the heart of the Dorset countryside, the husband and wife team are passionate about jewellery and their enduring designs reflect much of what is around them, from the fields and woods to the Jurassic Coast. Their Jewellery is contemporary in style with a unique fashion edge, at very competitive prices and superb attention to both detail and quality. Heath, Caroline and their talented team have an innovative creative ability and empathy with their customers is a very unique selling point.

They utilize a charming combination of sterling silver, 18ct yellow and Rose gold vermeil with accents of colour through the use of hand picked stones and exquisite enamel detail.

The varied collections range from the sleek and modern Stellar collection to imaginative animals and plant life designs, many with an elegant modern twist, evoking favourite memories from the past and creating new ones for the future. The Reeves & Reeves team really do love what they create and know that you will too.

She Said It

She Said It is a line of beautiful greeting cards, stickers and notepads that feature inspirational quotes from remarkable women in original watercolor art. Founded by Kathryn and Anna Christenson in 2019, She Said It is the intersection of their love for history, meaningful words, snail mail, and beautiful art.

She Said It hopes that by sharing the words and stories of the incredible women whose words are featured, women of today are inspired to dream, love, and be themselves!

She Said It is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All She Said It products are proudly made in the USA using sustainable energy and FSC paper.

CARDS & STATIONERY

Spring Fair

Held in the heart of London, Top Drawer is one of the UK’s leading design-led trade shows, carefully curated with buyers in mind.

Spring Fair is the UK’s ultimate shop for shops, bringing you thousands of high-quality products, new trends and exclusive new brands from across home, gift and fashion. This event places thousands of online sellers, suppliers and buyers from across the globe all under one roof. It’s a great opportunity to come face to face with thousands of top suppliers and try, touch and test a multitude of products.

With over 800 brands to choose from, Home & Gift is the largest showroom in the North. With an ever-expanding line-up of brands from household favourites to emerging designers, Home & Gift provides a great location to discover next season’s best sellers.

Autumn Fair is one of the UK’s leading trade shows for wholesale home, gift and fashion. The four-day event is held at the NEC Birmingham in September, offering some of the best products and inspiration just in time for the Golden Quarter.

SmartGames is the worldwide leader in multi-level logic games. The awardwinning games have multi-level challenges from the very easy to the very challenging; perfect for players of all ages. Each has a unique and innovative game mechanic with themes that appeal to both boys and girls.

SmartMax is the award-winning preschool magnetic construction system which allows children aged 1year+ the chance to explore the fascinating world of magnetism in a fun and safe way. The products are safe and durable and made from the highest quality materials, the magnets are incredibly strong and can

carry up to 60 times their own weight.

GeoSmart is the future of geomagnetic play. An ideal STEM magnetic construction set, featuring bright colours, strong magnetic pieces and a patented doublesafety system. The GeoSmart kits range from basic starter sets to battery-powered remote-controlled vehicles including LED lights!

Spice Inspired

www.spiceinspired.com | 07534 204 836 |

Spice Inspired is proudly the importer and UK distributor for the eat.art brand in the UK and EU since 2018. We are very pleased to present to you this wonderful fine food gifting range that is making its mark across the globe.

The eat.art brand is driven by a passion for food and combine this with meticulously detailed designs that incorporate the latest in Food and Packaging trends. eat. art, the brainchild of Cape Herb and Spice, has carved its niche in the global fine food industry since 2003, as an innovator of unique food gifting products, of the highest quality.

eat.art believe that Great design feeds the Heart as much as delicious food feeds the Soul!

FOOD & DRINK HOME & GARDEN

Fine food gifting allows you to give something that speaks to someone’s passions whether it’s for the curry lovers, chilli-addicts, BBQ masters, exotic spice seekers or tea connoisseurs wanting to try out new and exciting blends. Gift sets are presented with eye-catching artwork designs, adding a further layer of intrigue making it the ultimate heart-warming gift.

The vial selection boxes come in slide out gift trays with glass test tubes and aluminium lids, being eco-friendly and sustainable. The tubes are stored in the gift tray and easily retrieved from spice cupboards, keeping you organised. All the gift sets bring an element of luxurious quirkiness but packed with deliciousness flavour! eat.art are passionate about

combining their discoveries of global exotic ingredients to bring excitement and joy to kitchens in every home.

A premium exotic fine food range that is exquisitely packaged and designed especially for the discerning foodie connoisseur. The gifting range isn’t overtly themed according to a special occasion, allowing all year merchandising options and maximizing potential selling periods.

The range spans a wide variety of cuisines, perfect for friends or families keen to grow their knowledge of flavour and taste new dishes from around the world.

Food gifting is still growing year on year as it brings pleasure to the receiver. Being creative in the kitchen and escaping from

all the daily stress and woes of the world, experimenting and cooking up new tasty dishes couldn’t be easier. Gifts that keep on giving, as a number of meals can be prepared with each blend.

100% NATURAL GOODNESS - No artificial flavourings and colourants. No added MSG or preservatives. Nonirradiated and non-GMO. Suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians.

Join us as we continue our quest to spark culinary curiosity and broaden flavour horizons.

Stitching Me Softly creates a wonderful range of sustainable craft kits from their base in Bristol. Each kit is carefully designed by founder Emma and packed in house to ensure high standards are maintained.

All the kits contain the materials and tools needed to guided the maker through how to master a new skill and finish with a lovely item to use and enjoy over time and time again. The materials are carefully chosen for each project for their suitability and high quality, there is currently a mix of different recycled cottons and 100% British wool.

The bespoke packaging and beautiful photography make them really stand out on the shelves.

Tihara Smith

www.tiharasmith.com |

Tihara Smith is a fashion, accessories and lifestyle brand. Founded by designer Tihara Smith after graduating from the University for the Creative Arts, Epsom and showing her Windrush inspired collection at Graduate Fashion Week 2018.

Inspired by her heritage, Tihara’s designs take inspiration from the Caribbean with a London twist. Tihara strives to create distinctive pieces that each have a story, and allow people to have a little piece of the Caribbean.

In the spring of 2021, the Museum of London acquired an outfit from Tihara Smith’s 2018 Graduate Collection inspired by the Windrush Generation. The collection explored Tihara’s own family’s story of migrating to the UK from the Caribbean as well as the broader history of the migration of people from across the West Indies. The outfit acquired included a hand-embroidered raffia vest, vinyl tablecloth shirt & raffia parrot bag.

Tihara’s products are all thoughtfully designed and perfect for retailers looking to stock their stores with high-quality, unique & vibrant products. The range includes gifts, stationery and greeting cards, perfect for independent retailers, concept stores, boutiques, museums and bookshops whose customer base enjoy positivity, bright colours, travel and history.

Tihara hopes her designs resonate with anyone whose personal story is influenced by the beautiful interconnection of cultures and histories that make us all who we are.

CARDS & STATIONERY DESIGN & CRAFT FASHION & JEWELLERY

FESTIVE & SEASONAL HOME & GARDEN

Based on the shores of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, we take unloved vintage cutlery and give it a new lease of life as wonderfully unique hand-stamped gifts.

Our vintage cutlery is sourced from around the globe but always handstamped in Ireland. A trip to St Georges’ market in Belfast led to the discovery of old silverware, that clearly had a story to tell! We asked ourselves how could we bring them back to life? And with that, Two Spoons was born. We have words or phrases to suit all occasions and offer a bespoke service to both stockists & retail customers. Can’t find what you want to say? Use your own words!

We hand-stamp each letter of your message, using the finest steel pins, so you can say whatever you like and embrace whatever makes you out of the ordinary.

To top it all off, each item comes in our eco-friendly packaging, so you don’t have to worry about gift-wrapping it. Plus you can feel that little bit better about yourself,

From homewares to accessories, we create thoughtful, design-led gifts and lifestyle products with style and substance, to appeal to all ages. We’ve developed an expertise in a diverse variety of products such as Telephones, Clocks, Globes, Lamps and much much more!

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