Top Drawer S/S24, the first sourcing event of the year for the UK's retail industry, closed its doors last week following three days of successful, vibrant trade at Olympia London; having delivered a show that was 10% larger than 2023, it also benefited from a second successive year of visitor growth following a hugely successful acquisition strategy that resulted in thousands of new faces on the show floor, with 35% of them never having attended previously. The international flavour of recent editions also continued, with over 40 countries represented across the three days including the likes of Argentina, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Greece, Iceland, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.
Posted: 24 January 2024
Gibsons Games, the family-owned, independent jigsaw puzzle and board games company, has achieved B Corp certification meaning the company is now part of a global community of businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact.
The certification is awarded by B Lab, a non-profit organization that assesses companies based on their impact on their workers, community, environment, and customers.
To achieve this certification, Gibsons underwent a comprehensive evaluation of its business practices, including its governance, operations, supply chain, and social and environmental practices and was required to meet a minimum score on the B Impact Assessment.
Posted: 22 January 2024
Belgian puzzles and games company Smart Toys & Games has acquired of All Jigsaw Puzzles and welcome the team to the growing Smart family.
All Jigsaw Puzzles is a puzzle manufacturer based in Devon, England with a mission to share the endless possibilities of puzzling.
With a large customer base for white label puzzles and a successful ecommerce division, the business has its own range of over 300 puzzles working with national brands such as A-Z Maps, The National Gallery, and quirky artists such as Tim Bulmer and Mike Jupp.
The acquisition by Smart furthers the growth and presence of the company in the UK after the 2022 acquisition of The Happy Puzzle Company.
Posted: 17 January 2024
Spring Fair has announced that British fashion and textile designer and pioneer Dame Zandra Rhodes will take to the Inspiring Retail Stage for a fireside chat with retail analyst Natalie Berg, exploring her remarkable journey in design, leadership, and innovation.
The Fabric of Success: Dame Zandra Rhodes on Reinventing Fashion and Retail Leadership will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 7th February in Hall 2 within Moda, Spring Fair's trusted fashion destination.
Delving into her origin story, the evolution of British fashion, and her role in home furnishings, discover how her style and daring collaborations shaped her brand, drove innovation and legacy.
This session is a must-watch for those interested in the intersection of retail creativity, industry advocacy and the cultivation of female leadership in retail.
Posted: 15 January 2024
Joe Davies has been appointed by Amber House as exclusive distributor for the Read My Lips brand of licensed Lip Balms.
The full collection of Read My Lips will be available from the Manchester-based importer in February. The range consists of single lip balms, multi-packs and tear & share packs; all with flavours and packaging coordinated to each brand.
John Kingham, Managing Director at Amber House commented: "Read My Lips is hugely popular and successful in the UK, and we have been looking for some time for the right distributor to take the brand forward into independent retail. With their reputation for award-winning customer service and their 'little & often' order system Joe Davies are the perfect fit for us."
Posted: 12 January 2024
Top Drawer, the UK's premier design-led retail trade show, is back in one week with its Spring/Summer 2024 edition, featuring a collection of over 600 hand-picked brands across 9 curated sectors. Taking place at Olympia London from 14th - 16th January, buyers will have the opportunity to discover the latest products, brands and trends, as well as network with the rest of the retail industry. This season's show is a must-visit, as it's jam packed with everything a retailer needs to start 2024 with a bang! Here are just some of the highlights to see and enjoy at Top Drawer: Bigger and Better Than Ever Following double-digit visitor growth in 2023, this January's Top Drawer has seen a 10% increase in exhibitor numbers, bringing retailers an unparalleled choice of hand-picked suppliers to explore.
Posted: 9 January 2024
Spring Fair, the UK's diverse, and trend led marketplace for Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday, has launched this season's The Little Black Book – the buyer's go-to guide for the show taking place from 4th – 7th February 2024 at NEC Birmingham. Digital copies of The Little Black Book will also be sent to everyone who registers. To register for Spring Fair and be in with a chance of receiving a free copy of The Little Black Book visit the website: https://www.springfair.com/visitor-registration
Posted: 2 January 2024
Lesser and Pavey has launched a new range of diffusers as part of the Desire range of fragrance products. With pastel coloured containers, bamboo reeds, and matching floral feature, this new addition is ideal for the spring. Fragrances contained include the six best sellers - Velvet Rose and Oud, Pomegranate Noir, Lavender and Chamomile, Vanilla and Anise, Fresh Linen, and Fig and Lotus.
Posted: 28 December 2023
Clarion Retail has announced the appointment of Alison Graham, who will spearhead the commercial team on flagship tradeshow Home & Gift.
Graham joins Clarion having spent more than two decades working at Spring and Autumn Fair and more recently on logistics event, Deliver, and brings a wealth of experience and contacts to the role.
Clarion Retail Show Manager David Westbrooke said: "I'm thrilled to welcome Alison to the team – having worked with her previously, I know without doubt that she is the perfect person to help drive our portfolio forward; her impressive event experience combined with strong relationships across the retail industry reinforces our campaign to deliver the best possible customer experience."
Posted: 21 December 2023
Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Newbold Breen as Chief Operating Officer. Laura began her new role on 4th December 2023. Having previously been Head of Legal for Magmatic Ltd, which owned the Trunki brand prior to its successful transition to new ownership earlier this year, Laura brings a wealth of relevant experience through her incredible journey on the inside track of a company which, despite its incredible success, had to battle many copycat storms along the way. What better experience could she bring to ACID than being at the coal face of what many in the UK face.
Posted: 19 December 2023
