Messe Frankfurt has cancelled Tendence 2021 as a result of the ongoing COVID pandemic. Cancelled for the second time in a row, Messe Frankfurt will continue to offer online platforms in the consumer goods sector, Conzoom Solutions and Nextrade, offer national and international retailers alternatives for inspiration, trend information, ordering or assortment design as well as help for self-help in these challenging times until next spring.... read more
Posted: 27 April 2021
Enesco's marketing & product director Helen Cottrill is set to take part in a 26.2 mile hike in the Lake District to raise money for Macmillan. Helen says, "To raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support my best friend Caroline – also an ex Enesco employee – and I are taking part in the Ullswater Mighty Hike on 19th June. We will complete 26.1 miles around the hills surrounding Ullswater in the Lake District. Over the years we have lost several lovely Enesco colleagues and friends to cancer, so this is in their memory."... read more
Posted: 26 April 2021
Every April 26, the World Intellectual Property Office celebrates World Intellectual Property Day to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. Today, we will hear from parliamentarians and some of the best UK designers from different industry sectors about the importance of IP to stimulate innovation for growth. Why IP Matters? And also, what are the challenges of bringing new ideas to market? WIPO say, "Every business starts with an idea. Each of the millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that operate across the globe every day started with an idea that took shape in someone's mind and made its way to market."... read more
Posted: 26 April 2021
ExaClair Limited, the UK supplier of Rhodia and Clairefontaine, has launched 11 new warm and inviting colours into its popular Goalbook and Softcover notebook ranges to further satisfy all note-taking, journaling and task-setting needs. The new colours range from deep reds to pastel pinks, earthy greens to complex blues, and have been chosen to ensure the ranges are aligned to the latest colour trends. Goalbooks come with an orange elastic closure, expanding inner pocket, a pen loop and two ribbon bookmarks, and include 120 sheets of Clairefontaine's signature premium-quality, PEFC Certified 90gsm ivory brushed-vellum paper.... read more
Posted: 20 April 2021
Top Drawer organiser Clarion Events has announced that the show is returning to a live format for its A/W21 edition. Taking place at Olympia London from 12-14 September, the show promises to reunite design-led brands, buyers and designers for trade opportunities for the first time in over a year. To ensure the needs of its audience were best met, in planning for the show's return to an in- person format, the team has extensively surveyed its community of leading retail buyers and interior designers – 82% of which said they intend to attend in September.... read more
Posted: 19 April 2021
Puckator has signed a lease on a modern 4,000 square metres unit located on a newly constructed logistics park adjacent to Wroclaw airport, which will serve as the group's European Distribution Centre (EDC). South West Poland is geographically advantageous for pan-European distribution and also provides a relatively benign business environment within which to operate. Initially, plans were the commencement of operations by the end of the year, but progress has been swift and now it is likely the EDC will be fully operational by 1st October 2021.... read more
Posted: 16 April 2021
Hyve Group is set to launch the Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace. The Online Marketplace takes the wholesale home, gift, and fashion business online, enabling trade with existing and new global partners throughout the year.The Online Marketplace is a brand extension to the heritage brands Spring & Autumn Fair, two live events which are now complemented by a 365 digital trading platform. It will allow brands to access serious, vetted buyers all year round, deepen relationships started at the live events at the NEC, generate leads and take online orders. Buyers can find new products from loved and trusted brands, discover new brands online, build their collections and shop with ease throughout the year.... read more
Posted: 14 April 2021
Sophie la giraffe is celebrating its 60th anniversary this May, and to celebrate this milestone a limited-edition design has been voted for by the fans to decide a one-time design, which will be available in September 2021.Sophie la girafe has become famous with families around the world and been trusted by millions of parents to sooth gums and bring joy to little ones. A classic, cross-generational toy, Sophie la girafe remains the world's bestselling teething toy and is designed to stimulate the senses and soothe teething pains... read more
Posted: 12 April 2021
Emily Vigor, founder of Jex clothing, has launched a new eco bag for kids. The new colour-in eco bags are available directly from the Jex website and from partners, Not on the High Street and Joules. Emily is also in talks with new stockists. Speaking about the brand, Emily says, "the gifts from Jex are not solely focussed on "educating" children in the traditional sense. If this year has taught us anything is that education comes in all forms, not just classroom based! Jex is about encouraging kids – and adults along the way if we can! – that it is ok to be our own kind of unique and express ourselves in whatever way they want, there are no boundaries or labels, just them as themselves, always."... read more
Posted: 9 April 2021
Luxury watch retailer Watchfinder & Co is said to be the first UK watch seller to remove gender labels from its operations, including its website and all stores. The company will instead label the watches as small, medium or large. The industry-first move has seen the brand launch a campaign with award-winning music artist Tinie Tempah –calling for all jewellery and watches to be made genderless as standard.The brand is urging manufacturers to follow suit and refer to watches by their size alone and ditch the 'redundant, restrictive and outdated' gender model, which labels certain watches as only suitable for those of a particular sex, undermining people's personal tastes and size choices.... read more
Posted: 7 April 2021