Here is a selection of features from Gift Focus magazine.
Simply Mourne Founder Catherine Bradford spotted a gap in the market for a potential work-from-home business to help support family life. Now, the business has a plethora o fin-demand products. "I started in 2016. I initially designed pictures for a hobby but saw a gap in the market. It was then that I could see a potential business from my hobby. I was on a career break supporting our eldest child through a challenging time. I thought if I could turn this idea into a business, I could work from home and be able to generate an income.
Do you worry about your employees' use of social media? Here, guest blogger Sue Tumelty from Hr Dept looks at the benefits of implementing a social media policy. TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and now Threads – social media provides employees with a million and one ways to bring a company into disrepute: from posing in uniform and bad-mouthing customers on a personal channel to making an ill-judged comment on their official page. With 98 per cent of workers saying that they have social media for personal use, it is intrinsic to a business that they have legislation in place to prevent any mishaps from happening. Down under, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of New South Wales even had to warn its members about creating (presumably adult) content on OnlyFans.
With the UK consumer being a fan of a celebration, there are greeting cards for every occasion. Take inspiration from these beautiful examples. Award-winning company, Cinnamon Aitch has a gorgeous selection of greetings cards to suit all ages, genders and styles. From the colour popping, graphic, on trend She and He ranges featuring bespectacled faces, to the sensitively hand painted, nature inspired Skylark range, the contemporary mix has ensured the company has gained an enviable reputation over its near thirty years of trading.
Artificial Intelligence – should you embrace it or fear it? Dids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying in Design (ACID) tells us more...Whatever area of the giftware sector you're in, there are many more questions than answers about using artificial intelligence (AI). AI is all around us and developing at an exponential pace and it's on the tip of everyone's tongue. AI's uses span the gamut of ground breaking and enabling, to its unauthorised use by machines plundering others' intellectual property with little or no regulation. Some may say plundering is a sanitised word for stealing the consequences of which threaten many with this sector. This rise on access to AI tools raises the question, will AI replace the traditional approach to designing are jobs on the line? Currently big business AI developers have written off the need for licensing so many ask, how will it be regulated?
The dynamic nature of our economy has propelled apprenticeships to the forefront as a key instrument for nurturing young talent. This is not just a passing fad, but a concrete method to prepare the next generation with hands-on skills and valuable knowledge.
Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shares why bridging the skills gap is important . However, the latest Government figures give us reason to stop and reflect. Apprenticeship starts saw a 4.1 percent dip, shrinking to 195,600 from August 2022 to January 2023, compared with the last period's 203,990. This decline is not just a statistical hiccup: it underscores untapped potential and the knock-on effect on our economy. It also reveals the missed opportunity to leverage the full potential of our small businesses as engines of skills development. The current setup is woefully unprepared to accommodate the specific training requirements of small businesses.
Faith Capstick from ACID's communications team shares some of her thoughts for better mental health. A great way to create some positive mental health techniques is to indulge in more creative pastimes. Creativity can be a way of slowing down anxious thoughts, it allows you to perceive your surroundings in a different way, taking focus away from your fear or panic and channeling your energy into a positive action which results in creating something beautiful. It can enhance your self-esteem, your positive thoughts, and make you feel better about yourself. Research has shown creative pursuits to lessen the stress and anxiety felt by trauma experiences, PTSD, and depression. Writing or painting, especially, can give your subconscious an outlet to express emotions which are difficult to speak about. Being immersed in creative activities allows your mind to go into 'the fl ow', it focuses your thoughts, allows mindfulness, relaxes you, and can even be euphoric, along with a feeling of accomplishment.
Kayleigh Gresty, founder of Kreate Socials talks to us about how networking on LinkedIn can be beneficial to your business. Are you a business owner looking to grow your presence on social media? Whether you want to grow your engagement or want to increase sales, social media can be seriously overwhelming, so to begin with, just focus on one, until you get to grips with this.
Blade and Rose owner Amanda Peffer found a distinctive product format which resonates with a wide audience, and is now looking to further its UK and European expansion When did you start up and why? When I was on maternity leave after the arrival of my daughter, I found I was constantly on the lookout for cute little leggings but never quite found what I wanted, so I designed my own. Initially there were only three designs, each with the unique and very cute 'design on the bum', which were a huge hit and sold out immediately. What prompted you to launch the business? The business just grew organically. I gave up my job to concentrate on Blade and Rose then twelve months later my husband Jon joined the company too.
This issue UK mailing service Washington Direct provides an insightful look at how to keep a long-term consumer base happy. Customer satisfaction is an integral part of business' ambitions if they wish to be a long-term success. Building a loyal customer base is important, but keeping those customers happy to ensure they will return in the future is essential as a business grows. Here, we look at how different brands can successfully maintain customer satisfaction, and how in some cases this has been refreshed to put a fresh spin on it.
This issue Gift Focus showcases the latest releases in the literary world, from books for green-fingered gardeners to must-haves for children, and The Queendom Within a guide to help you feel empowered as a woman - there really is something for every one! Whether you're buying for you, someone else, or your store, we're sure a few of these will get added to your reading list.
Pomegranate London Founder Katie Bulatovic evolved her brand from market stalls to a bricks and mortar stall in London, and has developed a loyal customer base that returns year-on-year. Tell us a bit about your store and how you came to open the business. I had been trading for many years through fairs and various market stalls and my sister, who owned the restaurant next door to my shop, let me know that it was available to rent and I jumped at the chance to finally have a fixed address – and also to work next door to her! Is the location important to the success of your store? Our shop is on one of the oldest garden squares in London and, whilst not on the high street, it is a frequently used walk through up to the high street. We are in such a beautiful spot and I think customers like us being this hidden gem they have chanced upon.
Visiting garden centres is a culturally British pass-time that's as popular as ever. In fact, over two-thirds of adults in the UK visit garden centres at least once a year. More young people are interested in green spaces and houseplants, with 83 percent of 18-34-year-olds thinking gardening is 'cool', and over half choosing a garden centre over clubbing. So, ensuring you are offering what young people might like is important. Here, we will explore some ways to entice more young people to visit your garden centre. Planting workshops: one way to keep young visitors coming to your garden centre is to focus on the growing hobby of caring for and rejuvenating houseplants. In 2021, the average Brit spent £300 on house plants, and members of Gen Z are the ones investing in their plants the most, study finds
A recent survey by Perspectus Global highlights how men have evolved in their gifting desires, with many now feeling their gifts are repetitive and are excited by options traditionally reserved for women. The research found as many as one in ten (11 percent) dads feel jealous of the women in their lives when it comes to the gifts they receive, while 80 percent insist women always receive more thoughtful presents. A quarter (28 percent) would go so far as to describe the gifts they receive as repetitive and uninspiring (24 percent). In fact, one in four (26 percent) say a present has made them feel unloved, while 30 percent feel regularly hard done by.
To mark Eco-Friendly Card's 30th Anniversary, Louise Prance speaks to Sue Morrish about the company's journey. Congratulations on your 30th anniversary! What were the reasons behind the initial launch of Eco-Friendly Cards? Glebe Cottage Studio (the original name of The Eco-friendly Card Co) was established with the help of the Princes Youth Business Trust by a young photographer, Scott Morrish, who was fresh out of art college and looking for a way to fund his new darkroom. Publishing cards with images of rural Devon, where he lived, seemed a good idea and Scott drove around the country lanes visiting selling his cards to independent retailers such as post offices and garden centres and Glebe Cottage Studio was born. A few years later after I (Sue) joined the business we started offering cards from south-west artists to increase the diversity of our offering to independent retail.
This issue Gift Focus Magazine showcases the latest releases in the literary world, from books for coffee-lovers and pet owners, to 'The little book of flirting' and Amazon Prime's fan-favourite Kaleb, from Clarkson's Farm, has a book out too - there really is something for every one! Could one of these exciting new titles be your next big seller in store?
Merci Maman founder Beatrice de Montille shares how the company holds motherhood at the heart of everything it does, and how it grew from a work-from-home job to the successful jewellery business it is today. Beatrice de Montille started Merci Maman over 15 years ago. After the birth of her second child, her employer rejected her request for a part-time role and she couldn't get the work-life balance she needed, so she started her own activity, originally as a sole trader working from home. However, she always had that entrepreneurial flare. She was hoping to create a few jobs but did not envisage that it would become so big. The company has had over 60 employees spread between London, Paris and Belin at the peak last year!
July is just round the corner which means only one thing - Home & Gift is nearly upon us!
The buyers' festival of the summer is gearing up for another spectacular show, which will transport visitors back to the summer of love. Socialise and connect in the laid back atmosphere of Home & Gift, which embodies the essence of togetherness and pressure-free connecting centred round a passion for quality products.
Taking over the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Harrogate Convention Centre from the 16-19th July, buyers will have 5 halls and multiple Design Points to explore - bursting with thousands of lust-worthy products from over 500 brands.
Gisela Graham is celebrating its 40th anniversary – check out how the company got to this milestone achievement. Gisela registered the business in 1983 and have just had a glamorous celebration of its 40th anniversary. Looking at what's to come, Gisela is launching an endless stream of good and original ideas and outstanding service! And in the near future will be launching her 2024 Easter/Spring collection in July.
The supply chain affects every industry to some degree, from the movement of products and labour to finding the right tools for the job. And making sure that you can provide your customers with the best experience is key for the running of any business. Customer satisfaction can cause loyalty for your business, making it an important factor to consider. To maintain this, you need to adapt to changes and challenges which you will face, including problems with the supply chain. Here, Peter Campbell of Snowshock, a UK based slush machines and slush syrups business, explores what the supply chain is, what issues it can face, and how businesses are managing to navigate these issues successfully.
Starting in the height of the Pandemic, Wag&Wool creates matching pet and human accessories – a growing trend in the UK. March 2020, the pandemic gave us all a chance for pause and introspection. For me, it was an opportunity to put the vitality of the high fashion industry on hold and concentrate on a project closer to my heart. Having shared my life with dogs since I can remember, I wanted to begin designing a beautiful range of gift-worthy knitwear for dogs. The lightbulb moment came to me when I met my friend and her dog, Monti, on a particularly chilly day in Brighton. We wrapped Monti up in one of my hand-knitted lambswool scarves to keep him cosy and I never looked back. Wag&Wool was born.
