Gift Focus - Newsletter

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Find out more about the latest industry news and product launches in the current issue of Gift Focus. Why not download the magazine in PDF format from www.giftfocus.com?

January show previews
Kick start 2012 with the best in retail buying

Handmade
Products with personality plus

Not a penny more
Hit the sweet spot with gifts for under £10

All the trimmings
Fabulous fashion accessories

Valentine's Day
Stocking up for a love story in store

Competition
Win a luxury trip to Giving & Living

Plus...

Regular features, news, events, Q&A special - and much more

Next Issue Out

16th January 2012

Creative Tops acquired by major US tableware company

Creative Tops, one of the leading names in tableware in the UK, together with its Hong Kong operation (CTFE) has been acquired by Lifetime Brands, Inc.

The acquisition is being heralded as a significant move to broaden the Creative Tops product range whilst helping to introduce some of the company's most successful tableware brands including V&A, Katie Alice and The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to new retailers across North and Central America.

Jeffrey Siegel, Lifetime's chairman, president and chief executive officer, commented:

"The acquisition of Creative Tops and CTFE represents a compelling, multifaceted opportunity that will allow us to accelerate our growth and to strengthen our businesses."

"Creative Tops is a highly regarded resource for private label and branded tableware and kitchenware products with significant design and supply chain infrastructure. We are impressed by the quality, commitment and passion of Creative Tops' management and expect the continuing management team, under the leadership of Patricia Dawson to integrate seamlessly into Lifetime's operating structure, enabling Creative Tops to increase its rate of growth and profitability beyond what it would be able to achieve on its own."

Creative Tops' managing director Patricia Dawson said: "The acquisition of Creative Tops and Creative Tops Far East Limited (CTFE) by such a high profile US tabletop organisation will strengthen our foothold into Europe and global markets.

"This acquisition will also enable the company to offer our customers a far more extensive product range outside of our current offering and will also help strengthen our existing brand portfolio."

She continued: "Our senior management team will remain in place and the company will be run autonomously in the UK, with no change to the way it operates on a day to day basis.

"We feel it will provide our customers with innovative, exciting and brand new products for years to come. We look forward to being able to present these new brands to you at Spring Fair 2012."

For further information visit
www.creative-tops.com

Scotland gears up for spring show

Gift Focus editor Sarah Reeve will be joining industry professionals to judge the Best Product Awards at Scotland's Trade Fair Spring in January.

"I am honoured to be asked to be one of the judges and know I will have a tough job on my hands selecting the winning products from such a varied and exciting range of exhibitors," she commented.

The awards are presented to the exhibitors with the most innovative and 'best' products at the show, which takes place at the SECC in Glasgow from 22nd to 24th January 2012.

A key buying forum for retailers from Scotland and the north of England, the show covers three main market sectors - textiles and clothing, jewellery and fashion accessories and gift and homeware.

The centre section of the show will be dedicated to Scottish exhibitors in the Showcase Scotland arena, while at the heart of the exhibition is the Launch Gallery for companies under two years old.

Scotland's Trade Fair Spring has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with a revamped layout, increased exhibitors and more buyers. It is expected to attract almost 5,000 visitors over the three days and is run in conjunction with Scotland's Speciality Food Show.

The 2011 autumn edition of the show reported 1,540 visitors, a rise in attendance of 3%. Visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk to find out more.

Tetris brand expands into giftware

Paladone Products has teamed up with the Tetris Company for the first launch of Tetris brand giftware.

The range is being launched in two phases, the first this October and the second next summer. Products available in the first launch include heat-changing mugs, cufflinks, jigsaw puzzles and Tetrimino shaped stress blocks. The initial range will be expanded during the second launch to include more gifts and gadgets. All products will either be in the shape of one of the familiar Tetrimino shapes or feature core Tetris brand elements. The Tetris game was initially released 27 years ago and remains one of the best-selling mobile games.

"Now the Tetris brand has expanded from electronic games to merchandise products, we are honoured to have this opportunity to develop a giftware range under the Tetris licence," says Hannah Scroggs, new product developer for Paladone. "The instantly recognisable Tetrimino shapes provide a wealth of inspiration for some truly innovative gifts. The positive response from retail buyers who have seen the initial range has been overwhelming."

Visit the website www.paladone.com to find out more.

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Christmas is coming

The round of autumn trade shows is over and the world of retail is poised for the festive rush.

Let's hope it brings the much-needed boost to the high street that retailers are counting on. One thing is for certain Christmas is coming and people will be buying gifts. Where they buy them from is dependent on many factors including the weather! Some things are out of everyone's control but having the right products, well-stocked shelves, great customer service and a well-laid out, welcoming store are just a few essentials to help make the most of this lucrative season.

Keeping ahead of the game, making the most of social media and latest technology are also key.

In this edition we provide a valuable insight into one of the most recent innovations - QR codes and how they are likely to shape the face of retail in the future. Our experts also look at a host of other topical issues including intellectual property rights and how to build a solid customer base.

For those looking for inspiration, not just for Christmas but the year ahead we showcase an array of fabulous new products covering everything from fashion accessories to fair trade lines, great gifts for under £10 and must-have buys for creating a Valentine's Day love story.

Our special feature looks at the burgeoning handmade sector and showcases original pieces with personality plus. With consumers increasingly looking for something different this is a sector that is well worth tapping into.

We also preview all the leading January shows to help kick start the new year.

Enjoy reading and have a very merry Christmas!

Sarah Reeve, Editor

Make sure you email editor@giftfocus.com to keep us up to date with all your news

Win! A luxury break to visit Giving & Living

Kick start 2012 with a VIP trip to Giving & Living, your best buying opportunity in the South West.

To visit the show in style, Gift Focus, courtesy of Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club, is offering the chance to win a luxury mini-break for two to visit this important buying event.

Taking place from 15th to 18th January 2012, near Exeter, just one mile from the M5, Giving & Living offers one of the first opportunities of the year to secure exciting and novel home and gift products ahead of the competition and in good time for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and an early Easter.

In just a few hours visitors can sample the best that's on offer from around 400 different companies covering the home, gift, coastal and tourism market. See, touch, try out, check the quality and get a real feel for what's going to sell well in the coming year and forge valuable business relationships at the same time.

Based at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre, one of the South West's leading exhibition venues, the show is easy to navigate to ensure maximum return for time invested in attending.

Giving & Living has been carefully designed to offer something for everyone, but also focuses on a number of very specific sectors and niches. 2012 sees a first time exhibitors' area and individual surgeries on retail and e-tail. The organisers have lined up leading regional e-commerce specialists Sitemakers and The Giftware Association chief executive Izzy Martinson.

To find out more visit the new show website www.givingliving.co.uk.

The competition prize includes:

Two nights' accommodation for two people at the Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club ( www.woodburypark.co.uk) in either a twin or double room

Breakfast and dinner included

A bottle of champagne on arrival.

Enter here

The Q range

Known for quality handmade beauty products, Quintessentially English has expanded its product offering with the new Q range of design-led products.

Since its launch the company reports that the range has gone viral, firstly gaining an Etsy fan-base that has now led directly into the retail trade with current orders exceeding expectations.

"Over the last 18 months this venture has gained pace, keeping our in-house design team busy and buzzing" says the company.

The range features English icons on mugs, tea towels, cards and framed prints.

Call +44 (0)1249 730 100 for trade enquiries.

The world of event decoration

Christmasworld 2012 promises to uphold its claim to the title, "The World of Event Decoration" by delivering the latest products and trends for festive occasions throughout the year.

"At no other fair in the world can decorators, designers, specialist retailers and bulk buyers find such a wide-ranging spectrum of products to give their seasonal business a genuine boost," says Eva Olbrich, the new Christmasworld director.

The show opens its doors from 27th to 31st January 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Occupying six halls exhibitors present party and festive lines for all occasions. In addition to Christmas decorations it caters for family celebrations such as weddings and birthdays as well as seasonal and annual events like Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween. Christmasworld is staged alongside Paperworld and Creativeworld trade fairs offering plenty of scope for crossover buying.

To find out more visit the website www.christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com

New Celebrating Britain category for 2012 Gift of the Year

With the London Olympics, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and a host of other landmark occasions next year, there will be plenty to celebrate in 2012.

The exciting calendar of events offers huge scope for the home and gift industry to cash in with souvenirs and Brit-themed lines. To mark the best of these, The Giftware Association has introduced a Celebrating Britain category into the 2012 Gift of the Year competition.

"This new category will provide a tremendous opportunity for those companies making souvenirs and other products which are particularly linked to Britain to get them in front of the widest possible audience," says GA chief executive, Isabel Martinson.

However, she warns: "Clearly there are strong intellectual property issues around these events and particularly around the use of any aspect of the Olympic logo. Anyone
entering products specifically linked to the Olympics, or indeed any other event that requires it, will need to demonstrate to the Gift of the Year judges that they have the necessary licences in place."

Winners of the 2012 competition will be revealed at a special awards ceremony at Spring Fair International on February 5th.

The entry deadline for the competition is December 15th 2011. To find out more visit the website www.giftoftheyear.co.uk

Take a look at our regularly updated Find a Supplier feature on our website where you find profiles, photographs and contact information from all our current magazine advertisers.

For all gift retailers...

New 'department store' look for Spring Fair

The shape of things to come is set to be revealed at Spring Fair International 2012, following a £1.2 million investment in the show.

The new blueprint is set to unfold when the revamped show opens at Birmingham's NEC on February 5th.

The first stage of the show's comprehensive re-edit began at this year's event following consultation with visitors, exhibitors, trade associations and key industry figures. Feedback pinpointed an improved buyer experience as fundamental to the future success of the event.

By the time the show opens organiser Emap Connect will have invested over £1.2 million in marketing, show features and the international buyer programme.

New product zoning, new wide boulevard-style aisles with seating running down the middle and covered walkways are designed to create a fresh new look and improve the traffic flow around the show, making it easier to shop and to optimise crossover buying potential. Trend-driven features will also be key, including the Trend House, styled by the show's sister brand WGSN (World Global Style Network), which was launched at this year's show.

"SFI 2012 has been redesigned to resemble a destination department store. Each sector will be a show within a show with it own personality. Our aim is for retailers to spend more time at Spring Fair, which in turn will result in them placing more orders with exhibitors," explains managing director of Emap Connect Home & Gift Louise Young.

For further information visit the website www.springfair.com

Once again Gift Focus Magazine and sister title Attire Accessories are official media partners and will be reporting on all the latest news, features, product launches and more over the coming months. Free copies of the magazines will be available throughout the show from the media village.

A colourful display

For refreshing a shop or window display, creating a blaze of colour or for seasonal themes, display stands from Black Dog are available in four different designs. The largest stand, the D8 curvy torso (pictured), is also suitable for displaying light scarves.

With colours ranging from natural beige to vibrant purple, the stands are made from a recycled paper mache base and covered with recycled paper twine. The base is slightly weighted to produce a lightweight but stable display item. Pins can be used on the stands to create multi-piece displays.

Visit the website at
www.blackdogdisplays.co.uk or call +44 (0)1905 611 783 to find out more.

Fair trade poll

The results of our recent online retail poll showed that 40% of all those who responded confirmed that fair trade credentials were 'very' influential in boosting sales of home and gift products, 30% believed they were 'fairly' helpful and 30% felt they were 'not' a driver for sales.