In response to retailer and supplier feedback, from 2024, the INDX Toy & Gift show, one of the UK's leading industry trade shows, is moving from a Spring calendar date to take-up a September slot. The next show will be held on 3 - 4 September 2024 and is open to all types of retailers. The move to September was agreed by the INDX strategy group, where suppliers and buyers said that they wanted to move the date to give them the opportunity to view new ranges later in the year due to the congested period of shows in the Springtime. INDX Toy & Gift will now be the only dedicated toy industry show in the Autumn season, and the September date will provide a great opportunity for retailers to take advantage of pre-Christmas buying. Visitors to the show will also get a first look at suppliers' early launch new ranges, giving them a head start on their Spring 2025 buying.
Posted: 7 August 2023
TV and celebrity organising experts, Style Sisters, have announced the next range of own-brand products set to launch later this year. With over 15 years of experience in fashion and interiors, Style Sisters will be launching their first home fragrance range in September 2023. Launched in collaboration with Sebnini, the home fragrance range has already been shortlisted in the 2023 'Gift of the Year Awards.' With Signature and Original ranges, the candle and diffuser vessels are made from fluted ceramic, with a minimalist monochrome design. The sophisticated fragrances have been inspired by the duality of our living spaces, offering fresh bright zesty fragrances, as well as rich earthy accents for cosy evenings at home.
Posted: 4 August 2023
Exclusive data from Kin + Carta and Google Cloud has revealed that 85 percent of the UK's largest retailers see "search relevancy" as their biggest challenge regarding product discovery on their ecommerce sites. Twenty business leaders from some of the biggest high street brands were asked by the global transformation consultancy: "What are your biggest challenges with product discovery (search, browse, recommendations)?" – "Search relevancy" topped the results by a significant margin, followed by "low conversion rates" at 35 percent.
Posted: 2 August 2023
Online UK packaging supplier Kite Packaging has launched an expandable m spec mailer ideal for shipping various small goods. The corrugated mailer can be used as a flat letterbox friendly envelope or it can be converted into a small parcel box depending on the goods packaged inside. An adhesive peel-&-seal strip makes for quick, easy and secure seals, while pre-creased grooves allow users to easily pop the envelopes out into a box, improving pick and pack efficiency for greater order fulfilment and cost savings. Manufactured with strong corrugation, these mailers provide crush resistance and compression strength when they come into contact with other boxes or heavy items, ensuring goods are well protected during shipping.
Posted: 31 July 2023
This year's 2023 theme on World Intellectual Property Day was Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity and ACID CEO Dids Macdonald OBE., was amongst five UK women selected for their "can do" attitude of women inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs worldwide and their ground-breaking work. Other UK women included in this prestigious global line-up are Jewellery Designer and trail blazer, Harriet Kelsall; Installation technique for offshore wind turbines inventor and entrepreneur Jacqueline Morrison; Esteemed departmental lecturer in intellectual property (IP) at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Le Vu Van Anh; Academic lawyer and professor Janice Denoncourt.
Posted: 28 July 2023
Ty Warner issued the following statement today in response to the release of The Beanie Bubble, a fictionalised feature film about the history-making success of Beanie Babies upon their first release in 1993. "I applaud the filmmakers for capturing the unprecedented energy and excitement – though not the facts – surrounding the original release of Beanie Babies 30 years ago. The movie is, by its own admission, partly fiction. But, like the filmmakers, I am in the business of dreams, and I admire their creative spirit. To the fans and collectors of Beanie Babies who have been there for the last three decades, thank you for all the love you have shown."
Posted: 28 July 2023
The Creative Retail Awards are delighted to announce the Shortlist for the 2023 Awards. The Shortlist presents some of the very best in global retail, leisure, and hospitality design & display with projects including Flannels, Gaucho, Selfridges, Myriam K, Hamleys, Nike and many more. The panel of Judges found it even tougher than usual this year to Shortlist the entries, with exceptional quality submitted from all corners of the globe, from North America, across Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East. As physical retail evolves, design and experience have become more influential tools than ever. The Creative Retail Awards have recognised the industry's best companies and talent since 2018. With categories including sustainability, omni-channel, technology, VM schemes, POP/POS, shopfitting, store design, experience, and innovation, the Awards recognise talent across the full spectrum of design and display.
Posted: 27 July 2023
Based in Colwyn Bay, Lima Lima was launched by Carly and James Brands in 2015 and got off to a flying start, producing and selling daring and risqué gifts and cards that quickly gained popularity and began selling the world over. The impact of Brexit that same year took its toll on the company, notably in Europe, but the couple have diversified and bounced back. They achieved a significant rise in turnover, sell more than 550,000 items annually, and now employ up to 10 full and part-time staff. As they prepare to move to new, larger premises in the seaside town, they have big plans for the future and a fresh selection of product ideas.
Posted: 26 July 2023
Leading UK glass manufacturer Dartington Crystal has joined BHETA. Dartington Glass as it was known until the 1980s, was born in 1967 as one of the Dartington Hall Trust's social enterprises in North Devon. It became the most recognised manufacturer of simple yet functional glassware in the UK. Dartington's vision was built on a clean and simple design style, handmade using age-old techniques of Scandinavian roots. It remains the only remaining factory scale producer in the country.
Posted: 24 July 2023
Autumn Fair, the UK's ultimate shop for shop for wholesale Home, Gift, and Fashion taking place from the 3rd – 6th September at NEC Birmingham, has launched an inspirational new and exclusive Product Preview offering buyers the scoop on the forthcoming show. In the exclusive first look at what buyers can expect at the show, Autumn Fair has curated the most sought-after products. From gifts to greetings cards and footwear to furniture, the Autumn Fair Product Preview features the must-have products destined to be your next bestsellers.
Posted: 21 July 2023
