Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2018 (Issue 109)

6 giftfocus Catch up on all the latest in our news round up industry news THE GA’S GIFT OF THE YEAR COMPETITION FOR 2019 IS NOW OPEN The Gift of the Year 2019 competition is now open for entries until the end of November. The largest and most prestigious product competition in the gift industry, Gift of the Year celebrates the best products that will be on the market in late 2018 and throughout 2019. Winning and highly commended products are featured in the Winners Brochure, which is distributed at all major trade shows throughout the year and to GA retailer members. The top prize, courtesy of Autumn Fair, is a free stand for the winner of the Judges’ Choice award – the winner among winners. It isn’t just about the winners, however, as nominating a product for a Gift of the Year award gives access to special logos that can be used on websites, social media and even in print. Those shortlisted could even find their products featured on the Gift of the Year social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. On top of the publicity that entering can provide, every entry placed in the competition is put before the panel of judges during the online stage of judging in December. It’s a fantastic chance to put new products in front of buyers, and every year judges ask to be put in touch with entrants to talk more about their products. Entries cost £75 or £50 if entrants are members of the GA, JDA, GCA, BTAA or NAJ, and after the first entry, subsequent entries cost less (£35 for members, £50 for non-members). There is also a 20 per cent “early bird” discount that applies until the end of September. There is no limit to the number of products that can be entered into a category or how many categories to enter a single product or range into. Enter online at giftoftheyear.co.uk or call the team on +44 (0)1212 371 142 . BLUE EYED SUN MD RAISES FUNDS ON CHARITY MOTORBIKE RIDE Jeremy Corner, Blue Eyed Sun MD and chairman of the Giftware Association, has successfully raised around £4,000 for charity. Taking part in a ride across the Gobi Desert on KTM 450 Enduro off-road motorbikes with eight friends on a self-funded trip in July, Jeremy smashed his fundraising goal of £3,000 for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, which helps street children in Mongolia. The charity helps children and impoverished families in desperate need on the streets of Ulaanbaatar, where temperatures drop to -40 degrees Celsius in the winter and the unemployment rate is high. The funds raised will provide children with access to warm accommodation and social support. While there, Jeremy was able to see firsthand the difference the money will be making when he visited the Blue Skies Village and met with the children and social workers living there. “CNCF are doing a remarkable job with these kids,” Jeremy said. “I am very grateful for all of the generous donations we have received so far and for everyone’s support. It has been a real privilege to be a part of this incredible journey, and I very much look forward to our next adventure. For now, I’m glad to be back in the UK – safe and relatively sound.” Donations can still be made at justgiving.com/gobidesertenduro and to find out more about the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, visit: cncf.org The winner of the May/June issue competition is Andrew Page from The Gift Shop in Suffolk. He’s won £500 RRP of stock from esscentualcandles. To be in with a chance of winning nearly £500 RRP of candles from Best Kept Secrets, head over to page 149.