Industry news from Gift Focus magazine

London Packaging Week unveils pioneering Innovation Award winners

London Packaging Week is thrilled to unveil the winners of its inaugural Innovation Awards, sponsored by Fedrigoni, celebrating groundbreaking advancements in packaging across various categories. This year's awards recognise exceptional design, creativity, and sustainability in packaging solutions.

In a collaboration with Aston Martin, Bowmore has crafted a decanter that is as much a work of art as it is a vessel for this exceptional whisky. The design takes inspiration from the Japanese metalworking technique 'Mokume-Gane,' known for its unique layered patterns. This technique has been reimagined through layered carbon fibre sheets, creating the decanter's distinctive Mokume lid. The result is a lid that evokes a futuristic aesthetic and mirrors the natural black rocks of Loch Indaal, the home of the Bowmore Distillery.

Posted: 30 September 2024

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Poetic Brands to develop apparel and accessories range for upcoming Wicked film

Poetic Brand has announced that it has partnered with Universal Products & Experiences to design, manufacture and distribute a wide range of Wicked-inspired product.

From adults' and kids' apparel to luggage and bags – in the UK market celebrating the two-part, gravity-defying, generation-defining cinematic event.

A comprehensive range of daywear will include tops, skirts, trousers, leggings, dresses, coats, jackets and outerwear. There will also be pyjama sets, including toddlers' and/or children's pyjamas packaged together with adult pyjamas, along with a range of sportswear, swimming costumes, bikinis and swimming shorts.

Rounding off this impressive collection, Poetic will be developing Wicked-inspired bags and luggage. All designs will adapt the colourful style and imagery of the Land of Oz from the film to a visually stunning range.

Posted: 24 September 2024

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New online marketplace launches for creative and independent retailers

Aberston, a brand-new online marketplace for creatives and independent retailers, has been launched.

Aberston is an online B2B wholesale marketplace that connects independent retailers with independent brands selling unique, unusual and creative products.

Serving as a bridge between talented artisans and local gift and homeware stores, Aberston offers a curated selection of handcrafted goods ranging from artisanal jewellery to bespoke fashion pieces and everything in between. With a focus on celebrating craftsmanship and individuality, Aberston aims to create a thriving ecosystem for independent makers and retailers.

Founder and Director of Aberston, Djamel Benziane, says: "We're proud to provide a space where makers and retailers can come together to celebrate craftsmanship and build thriving businesses."

Posted: 19 September 2024

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Toy Fair 2025 is sold out

The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) is excited to announce that all exhibition space for Toy Fair 2025 is now sold out, several months before the show takes place. Any companies still looking for space are encouraged to apply online and join the waiting list now. Visitor registration for Toy Fair 2025 will open in late September on the Toy Fair website, www.toyfair.co.uk, when the floorplan and exhibitor list will also be live for planning.

Posted: 19 September 2024

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INDX Shows go national; reveals exciting plans for 2025

INDX is back and better than ever. Expect a calendar packed with buying focused events, a fresh market approach, and a completely revamped look and feel. Plus, a new website and revamped brand identity.

The following events will proudly claim National titles starting in 2025: INDX Kids becomes the INDX National Kidswear Show, INDX Man becomes the INDX National Menswear Show and INDX Intimate Apparel becomes the INDX National Intimate Apparel Show.

The following event titles have been revamped to better reflect the inclusivity and diversity of their product showcases: INDX Homewares becomes INDX Home, INDX Beds & Bedroom becomes INDX Beds, and INDX Toy & Gift becomes INDX Toys, while INDX Furniture, INDX Woman, INDX Sports & Leisure, and INDX Gift Food show titles remain unchanged.

Posted: 12 September 2024

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Autumn Fair draws in high-calibre buyers

Autumn Fair, the UK's leading seasonal trade event for Home, Gift, and Fashion, has once again solidified its position as a key order-writing trade event, drawing in a high-calibre of decision-makers and influential buyers. This season saw a 6% increase in buyers actively looking to source and buy new products, a 20% rise in the number of buyers with sole or joint purchasing responsibility, and 30% brand new buyers, underscoring the event's continuing importance for the retail industry.

Posted: 12 September 2024

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Lily Arkwright Brings Ethical Jewellery to Scotland with new Glasgow showroom

Ethical jeweller Lily Arkwright has announced the opening of its first Scottish showroom in Glasgow, bringing its stunning collection of lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and ethically sourced coloured gemstones to a whole new audience.

Lily Arkwright has been at the forefront of the ethical jewellery movement in the UK. Specialising in sustainable lab-grown stones, the company offers a lab grown, conflict-free and environmentally conscious diamonds.

The new Glasgow showroom provides a welcoming and convenient space for customers to explore Lily Arkwright's collection. With expert staff on hand to offer guidance and answer questions, visitors can find the perfect piece of jewellery for any occasion.

"We're incredibly excited to open our first showroom in Scotland," says Philip Dawson.

Posted: 9 September 2024

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Top Drawer presents a ‘Whirlwind of Change’ with the opening of its A/W24 show

Top Drawer, the UK's premier design-led buying event, opened its doors for the A/W season yesterday. Welcoming buyers and store owners to embrace the 'whirlwind of change' that is the current retail climate. This edition showcases more than 500 exhibiting brands across the most in-demand lifestyle sectors.

The show's flagship sectors–Home, Gift, Greetings & Stationery, Play, Craft, Fashion, Food Emporium and Wellbeing–are complimented by Launchpad, a presentation of emerging brands from across all sectors who are new to the market.

Event Director, David Westbrooke said: "Top Drawer has a long, proud legacy of presenting store owners and buyers with products that will set their offering apart from the rest, and resonate with their customers."

Posted: 9 September 2024

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The Gift Fair Launches its Future Star Award

The Gift Fair is thrilled to launch its Future Star Award. This award celebrates newcomers with exceptional potential to the UK Gift industry.

This award will provide a launchpad for talented entrepreneurs to show off their wonderful products in way they might not otherwise have the opportunity to.

This year, we were spoilt for choice so two wonderful companies have been selected, it was just too hard to pick one! The Gift Fair Future Star awards go to Cheeky Legends www.arrthi.com for their colourful and cheeky greetings cards and Little Roglets www.littleroglets.com for their beautifully painted animal collection.

Cheeky Legends was created by Arrthi Little, a cartoonist based in Hampshire creating entertaining characters in her signature style 'Cute, Chubby, Cheeky'.

Posted: 4 September 2024

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New online gift tradeshow set to launch in 2025

The Gift Fair is an online gift tradeshow, set to take place from January 8th- February 28th, 2025.

Organised by Fabian Santoro and his team, this exciting platform hosts trade shows that work around you not the other way around. The platform is not like anything you've seen before – it's not a website, directory or meeting scheduler. Every aspect is designed to make trade shows faster, cheaper, easier and better. You can speak to real people in real time via instant messaging, video chat, exchange business cards and much more.

You can find established brands like Professor Puzzle, LifeCharms and Swing Cards as well as the hottest newcomers like Cosmic Cuties and BangoBerry.

Posted: 2 September 2024

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