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?

Industry news
All the latest from the world of gifts

On with the show
Trade fair dates and news

Brand spanking new
Latest launches and hot new products

Hot property
Spotlight on the world of licensing

Sales tips
How to stay ahead of the game

Industry insight
Business views on crucial price points

Q&A special
Our panel tackles your retail-related queries

Top trends for 2012
What's hot for the year ahead

Mother's day
Capture the market with great gift ideas

Fashion handbags
Bags of style with new season must-haves

Cockpit arts
Insight into a hot house of creative talent

Plus...

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

Next Issue Out

5th March 2012

Win a VIP break at The British Craft Trade Fair

Billed as 'the most inspirational trade fair in the UK calendar', The British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) is a leading showcase for the nation's creative talent.

Featuring the work of 500 UK designers and artisans, this year's BCTF takes place at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from 15th to 17th April.

For buyers and trend-spotters, looking to source original and innovative handmade products, it's a date not to be missed. Strictly a trade-only event it provides a launchpad for new talent and has seen many exhibitors go on to achieve international success during its 36-year history.

For 2012 courtesy of the organisers PSM Ltd and The Crown Hotel Harrogate we are offering the chance to win two VIP gold passes to the fair, staying at The Crown Hotel with dinner for two in the award winning Orchid Restaurant, one of the best Thai restaurants in Yorkshire.

For further information visit:
www.bctf.co.uk
www.crownhotelharrogate.com

The competition prize includes:

Two nights accommodation with breakfast for two people at The Crown Hotel Harrogate.

Dinner for two in the award-winning Orchid Thai restaurant in Harrogate.

Tea for two in Bettys world famous tea rooms in Harrogate.

Chauffeur service to and from the fair each day.

VIP gold passes to the fair which includes a free.

£50 voucher to spend in Fodders (www.fodderweb.co.uk) a new shop championed by Yorkshire Agricultural Society that acts as a shop window for local farmers and producers giving a crucial local market for their produce.

Enter here

China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums

For buyers looking to source eye-catching gifts and premiums the China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums and the Korea Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums will be the place to be this spring.

Staged at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from April 20th to 23rd, 2012, the fairs will feature professional and low-cost suppliers from China and South Korea, and are important events in the trade show calendar for those looking to import from Asia's top sourcing hubs.

Visitors can make contact with competitive suppliers and broaden their sourcing options with more participating exhibitors from other fast-growing Asian markets all under one roof.

Product categories include sports & event gifts, electronic premiums, watches & clocks, stationery & paper, trinkets & jewellery boxes, general gifts and more.

Last autumn's China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums reported good attendance, including a number of big-name buyers from across a variety of industries.

"Our shows have gained a reputation for showcasing a distinctive universe of manufacturers and suppliers from Greater China and throughout the region, as demonstrated by the quality and quantity of buyers in attendance," said Global Sources Exhibitions President Tommy Wong.

This spring, the Korea Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums also returns with new and creative products to enhance and differentiate product lines including Christmas & seasonal ranges, travel goods, gift wrap & accessories, souvenirs, arts & handicrafts.

The fairs will also include a conference programme of free seminars, free refreshments at the Wine & Cappuccino Bar and free Internet at the Buyers' Lounges.

Visit the website www.chinasourcingfair.com/gp for further information and to pre-register.

Easter treats

Serve up a treat in store with a feast of Easter treats, including the cute Easter Chick range of table decorations and accessories from CSC Imports. The range includes an Easter egg hunt kit with animal masks, stickers, pointers and colouring pictures with crayons to keep the little ones entertained. Paper Easter baskets are also available for collecting chocolate eggs. Cute cake picks and cake cases, bunting and blow bubbles along with table essentials such as plates, napkins and cups complete the range.

Visit www.cscimports.com

Ring in the new

Trends are a recurring theme in this bumper edition. With disposable income still tight shoppers are ever more discerning and want original, quality products that are bang on trend. To find out what's set to be hot in the months ahead turn to page 19 for some top tips.

As well as all the regular news, business advice and industry insights, this issue includes great gift ideas for Mother's Day, Easter treats and gloom-busting novelty items to draw customers in.

We also spotlight the new season must-haves in fashion handbags that are sure to grab attention in store, from rainbow brights to floral fantasies.

As an official media partner for Spring Fair International for the third year running, we were busier than ever with news of latest product launches at the show. In our bumper feature starting on page 75 we provide a low down on some of the new launches at the show.

Our special feature this month is all things natural. The home and gift market is seeing an increase in demand for items made with natural products. We take a look at a variety of suppliers who are pleasing those eco-savvy shoppers.

Enjoy!

Sarah Reeve, Editor

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

B. Duck takes flight with DRi

DRi Licensing has been appointed to represent B. Duck, a growing lifestyle brand from Hong Kong which now looks set to take the UK by storm.

Created by celebrity Hong Kong designer, Eddie Hui, in 2004 and developed by brand owners, Semk Products, B. Duck is already a hit in Europe and Asia.

Aimed at teens, students and young adults, the product range includes kitchenware, stationery, gifts and electrical goods, featuring the cool plastic duck and friends.

Alicia Davenport, Licensing Director of DRi Licensing says: "We're delighted to be adding B. Duck to our brand portfolio - it's hugely popular in the Far East and we're confident that it will receive a similar reception here in the UK."

Licencee Rainbow Designs launched its brand new B.Duck collection at Springfair International 2012, which includes the cool savings bank in zip-up bee outfit (pictured).

Feathered friends

Creative Tops' new licensing partnership with The Wildlife Trusts sees the launch of a collection of fine bone china mugs featuring some of the UK's most threatened species. The launch will be the first of its kind for The Wildlife Trust. The mugs feature illustrations by wildlife artist Mike Langman of animals and birds, including the badger, dormouse, fox, green woodpecker, otter, kingfisher, hedgehog and more.

Clare Farthing, marketing and public relations manager, explains: "The Wildlife Trusts have a wealth of beautiful imagery and a fantastic amount of provenance behind their cause. We hope to be able to communicate their values to a wider commercial audience whilst, through the sale of these beautiful mugs, contribute towards their vital conservation work."

Fikkerts takes inspiration from Kew

The Fikkerts family has been creating herbal remedies, toiletries and skin care products in England since 1903 using natural ingredients, plant extracts and essential oil.

The company currently has a brand new range of toiletries just launched in celebration of Kew.

"To develop this beautiful range of toiletries and bring life to the history of the Royal Botanical Gardens, we have taken inspiration from the wealth of artwork available in the Kew archives, containing many rare and historically significant botanical and architectural illustrations. These designs have been combined with our naturally derived, ethically sourced and sustainable high quality formulations and evocative fragrances, especially developed to convey the breadth of living plant collections housed within the gardens at Kew," says marketing manager Clare Hall.

"We are privileged to be working with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, an internationally respected centre of scientific excellence and world leader in plant science, art, conservation and continuing exploration," she adds.

Visit the website www.fikkerts.co.uk for further information.

Speakers announced for GA Members' Day

A trio of top professionals will provide tips at the Giftware Association's Members' Day and AGM on 16th May.

Entrepreneur Mark Smith, who started his business with one shop and rose to become the founder and CEO of Claire's Accessories in Europe, has recently been appointed as chairman of GA chairman Michael Sweeney's company, Natural Products Worldwide (npw).

He will be joined by Rory Sutherland, executive creative director and vice-chairman of top London advertising agency OgilvyOne and vice-chairman of Ogilvy & Mather UK. He will tell members how to make marketing work for them.

The third speaker will be entrepreneurial business consultant Robert Craven, who ran training and consultancy programmes at Warwick University's famous Business School for five years before setting up his own award-winning consultancy in 1998, offering practical solutions and tangible business results.

The AGM will see Michael Sweeney of Natural Products/Worldwide Co, chairman of The GA, step down after his statutory two years in the role. He will be succeeded by Widdop Bingham's Andrew Illingworth, with Michael Pape of Ravensden becoming vice-chairman.

The event will be held at The GA's Vyse Street HQ in Birmingham from 10am-1pm, followed by lunch and free, private 'surgeries', which members are invited to book with the association's service partners and members of the National Committee.

For further details contact the Gift Association on +44 (0) 121 236 2657

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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...

Air Puppy takes off

Air Puppy is a new aspirational lifestyle soft toy and gift company.

Aimed at soft toy lovers and gift givers of all ages, Air Puppy offers collectable, British designed soft toys across a broad spectrum of style, size and pricing. The Hickory Shack launch range of 12 animal characters, including Biscuit Bear, Snorfy Giraffe, Waggles Duck, Flopsy Bunny and Mojo Monkey, is reported to have sold out in only eight weeks. Another 12 Hickory Shack characters will be available to collect this spring. Air Puppy will also be launching more characters as part of a push of eight new ranges totalling over 60 lines.

The new ranges and 60 plus characters were revealed to visitors to Spring Fair International in February and can be seen at Harrogate Home & Gift in July.

Wendy Alderdice, commercial director of Air Puppy, comments: "We were expecting a good reaction but when the first shipment sold out in a matter of weeks we knew that we had already found a strong and sustainable market. That's why we brought forward plans for new ranges and began work on a strong marketing push right from the start of January. And that's why we see 2012 as a very exciting year for the Air Puppy brand!"

Fashion meets function at London Stationery Show

"Fashion meets function" has been chosen as the marketing theme for the 2012 Stationery Show, to reflect the sector's growing popularity and new lifestyle status.

The Stationery Show is the only UK exhibition dedicated to stationery products, writing instruments and accessories and has recently launched National Stationery Day to promote stationery to consumers and the consumer press.

"The British love affair with stationery products and writing instruments is as strong as ever, and is being driven by a resurgence in handwritten communication and the growth of the home office in particular," says organiser Chris Leonard-Morgan.

"In a tough market, buyers need more than ever to be able to offer their customers new products and reasons to spend their money in their stores rather than with their competitors. Exhibitor bookings are ahead of this time last year, and a third of these are new to the event."

The 2012 Stationery Show takes place at the Business Design Centre in London on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th April.

For details visit www.stationeryshow.co.uk or call LMC Media on +44 (0)208 462 0721.

Horrible BrainBoxes

Green Board Games is celebrating its 21st year in business in 2012 and as well as introducing some new lines, will be strengthening its core brands including its range of award-winning BrainBox games.

Within its licensed programme the company is introducing BrainBoxes in conjunction with Horrible Histories, Horrible Science and the Imperial War Museum. Its bespoke range will also be enhanced by a number of titles for all ages, including the first BrainBox targeted at the over 55 age group.

Telephone +44 (0)1494 538 999 or visit the website www.greenboardgames.com to find out more.

Mums edition by Fink

Fink Conversation Cards is launching its Mums edition in time for Mother's Day, providing an unusual solution to the annual gift decision.

The Mums edition is a small pack of cards containing questions that will get customers and their mums really talking, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The pack includes questions to ask Mum and questions that Mums can ask their child to promote two-way stimulating conversation.

'What are your hopes and dreams for me?', 'What events have shaped your life?' and 'What sort of mother did you think you would be?' are just some of the questions for mums and have been carefully constructed with input from family expert Sarah Newton.

Fink is also launching a special Dads edition for Father's Day aimed at getting Dads and children talking beyond the realms of day-to-day chatter. The Dads edition will be available soon.

For further information visit www.finkcards.com

Yankee Candle Europe announces growth

Yankee Candle has announced growth in both the UK and across Europe for Yankee Candle Europe, the European subsidiary of the international brand, Yankee Candle Corporation.

The UK market, which Yankee Candle celebrates 12 years of trading in, reports a growth of 38 per cent for 2011 compared to the year prior. Whilst Yankee Candle Europe, which incorporates all European territories, reports growth of 35 per cent overall.

Key markets in Europe in which Yankee Candle has offices and/or employed staff include Italy, France and Germany. The 35 per cent growth figure also includes 24 other countries in which Yankee Candle is supported by distributors including Israel, Australia and New Zealand, which are under the Yankee Candle Europe umbrella.

Clive Harper, Yankee Candle europe managing director, says: "The growth of the brand across all territories has been phenomenal for 2011. I am delighted with the results. The strength of the brand has really stood the test of time in the difficult climate we are all working in. Retailers are increasing the breadth of the offering in store as consumers are buying the brands they trust. In additional to increased business from existing retailers, we have been very successful in our concession business in the UK, Germany and Italy."