Gift Focus - May/Jun 2018 (Issue 107)

8 giftfocus CELEBRATING CREATIVITY IN RETAIL DESIGN Launching this June, the Creative Retail Awards are a new and exciting annual event designed to recognise and reward innovation and excellence in retail design. Organised by the Shop & Display Equipment Association (SDEA), the awards will span a number of disciplines, including store design, visual merchandising, lighting and POP, and will be judged by a panel of industry leaders. The inaugural Creative Retail Awards are free to enter for SDEA Members and the winners will be announced at an evening drinks reception and party at Bunga Bunga, Covent Garden on Tuesday 5 th June, 2018. Bringing together the whole industry, the Creative Retail Awards is a new type of awards ceremony that blends networking with an informal party atmosphere celebrating the diversity in our industry. The awards will recognise talent across the full spectrum of retail design and display in a broad range of awards categories, encompassing store concepts, visual merchandising, POP, lighting, signage & graphics, and much more. You can enter as many categories as you like – visit creativeretailawards.com to enter. For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, and to enter, telephone +44 (0)1883 348 911 , send an email to party@creativeretailawards.com or visit creativeretailawards.com industry news Appointments CLIVE HARPER JOINS VILLAGE CANDLE Village Candle is proud to announce the appointment of a familiar face in the world of home fragrance, Clive Harper. Joining the Village Candle leadership team at an important stage in the growth of the brand, Clive is ready to extend the Village Candle brand into new markets whilst working to expand existing ones, giving it a global presence. Clive Harper has joined the leadership team as President of International Sales. He has a stellar career in growing the fragranced candle market in Europe having worked at Director level within the candle industry for more than 30 years. FIRST MEET THE BUYER OF THE YEAR The Giftware Association’s 2018 series of ‘Meet the Buyer’ events have got off to a flying start with a change of location, new buyers and eager suppliers. The event, held at The Button Factor, a stone’s throw from The GA HQ, lent itself perfectly to the variety of products on display, with a comfortable atmosphere for buyers and suppliers to have meaningful conversations. There were buyers in attendance from Choice Marketing, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, The Royal Horticulture Society and The Scout Shop, and they were not disappointed with the mix of products on display ranging from specialist jewellery from Eton Watches, Life Charms and SL Designs; beautiful ceramics from Jersey Pottery and Villeroy & Boch UK Ltd; as well as everything in between including toys and games from Ravensden and Tactic Games; and fashion accessories from C&C Hats. Many of the suppliers left with future contacts, but also with important feedback from the buyers about their products and added directional focus for the brands on display. Simone Rose, Meet the Buyer organiser and The GA’s Business Development Manager, said of the event, “The event has been hugely successful, and has been great fun to organise, the more of these events we do, we learn a little more each time at how the interaction between buyers and suppliers work, as well as coaching new to business members with our existing skills” CURTIS ALDER JOINS WIDDOP Widdop and Co. is delighted to welcome its latest recruit to its 17-strong sales team. Curtis Alder joins the company as the Territory Manager for East Anglia, Essex and the eastern counties. He brings with him a wealth of experience after 20 years of working in a number of sales roles in both family and corporate companies. Curtis replaces Graham Miller who retires from the company in April after 14 years of sterling service for the company. FAMILY FAVOURITE HOMEWARES AND GIFTS BUSINESS REBRANDING AS REX LONDON Rex International has enjoyed phenomenal UK and global retail success, trading for over 35 years through 20,000 retailers in excess of 70 countries worldwide. The consumer arm of the business, e-retailer dotcomgiftshop – now 10 years old – has through its extensive press coverage helped to develop the company’s enviable reputation for designing quirky and continually refreshed ranges of homewares and gifts. Spring 2018 will see the company embark on its next evolution when both the trade and consumer arms of the business will be rebranded under the one Rex London umbrella. Nigel Biggs, Sales Director, explains, “This name change helps reinforce the British legacy and design credentials of the company – born and bred from its humble origins on London’s Portobello Road market in 1975, selling candles, jeans and ponchos. “The name change is also likely to appeal to the overseas market who will enjoy the celebration and emphasis on the company’s UK history.”

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