On the 21st of July the industry congregated at Sook Oxford Street, London, to learn the Shortlisted entries for the upcoming 2022 Creative Retail Awards. The shortlist presents some of the very best in global retail, leisure, and hospitality design & display with projects including Woolworths South Africa, Sports Direct, Chanel, Sky, Coach, Asda and many more. Sasha Castling, Marketing at shortlisted entrant Ribble Cycles, commented: "We are really proud, delighted, and honoured to be included and alongside some incredible competition and brands."
Posted: 5 August 2022
A new series with expert tips for a profitable Christmas will start in August - both for online business and for the appealing design of shop windows and retail spaces. Trend expert Gabriela Kaiser and e-commerce specialist Peter Höschl guide retailers through the Christmas countdown. While customers are still celebrating barbecues, preparations for the year-end business are getting underway in both online outlets and brick-and-mortar retail stores. Because, no matter what, Christmas takes place and remains the most emotional and highest-turnover time of the year.
Posted: 4 August 2022
Belgian puzzles and games company Smart Toys and Games has announced the acquisition of the The Happy Puzzle Company.
Over the course of nearly three decades the Happy Puzzle Company, a Hertfordshire-based company known for its successful B2C operations in the UK, has reached a customer base of over 400,000 happy puzzlers and a presence in over 14,000 UK schools.
In recent years it has also experienced major growth in the B2B market, with international distribution now in over 20 countries.
Posted: 3 August 2022
Port Erin's award-winning greeting card and gift shop Mantons has now raised a total of £30,000 for charities and local organisations. The money has been raised by a combination of running events, donations of stock and sales of greeting cards.
Mantons owner Chris Beards says, "We are all extremely proud to have been able to raise over £30,000 as well as recently raising £660 for the DEC and the Red Cross to help the people of Ukraine."
Posted: 1 August 2022
Crew Clothing Company has used Trimco Group UK to manage and implement the use of 100 percent recycled polybags across its extensive global supply chain.
As part of the brand's sustainability journey, Crew Clothing Company wanted to source a more circular solution to its regular polybags. Furthermore, with the UK Plastic Packaging Tax that came into force in April, the British clothing retailer was keen to implement the change quickly.
Even though the new legislation provides that the tax applies to packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic, Trimco Group's team advised the use of 100% recycled polybags.
Posted: 29 July 2022
Continuing its successful partnership with online interiors brand Surface View, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced the launch of a new collection of flora and fauna-themed prints that can be used for decorating children's bedrooms and play areas.
The prints are based on specially created designs from the RHS children's style guide, which develops designs inspired by artwork from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world's finest collection of botanical art. The Surface View service allows the prints based on these designs to be customised, cropped and scaled to customers' exact specifications to illustrate a wide range of home interior products, from murals, canvases and wall hangings to ceramic tiles and much more.
Posted: 27 July 2022
Rainbow Designs is investing in and strengthening its successful sales team with the appointment of Jo Adger to the position of National Accounts Manager.
Jo joins the Rainbow Designs Team, bringing with her a wealth of industry and specialist toy knowledge, with over a decade of sales experience.
Jo started in sales in 2011, working at DKB Household before spending the last four years at games company, Winning Moves.
Jo is delighted to be joining the Rainbow family and excited to be working with these famous brands.
Posted: 24 July 2022
Woodlodge is teaming up with Pantone, the universal language of colour for designers, brands and manufacturers, for its latest licenced outdoor collection. Inspired by Pantone's most popular shades, this collaboration offers a contemporary and on-trend range of planters that will appeal to a wider range of consumers.
Buyers can get the first glimpse of this exciting partnership at Glee.
Featuring the instantly recognisable Pantone logo, the new portfolio will inject colour into sales areas and tap into the popularity of bold shades in the home.
Posted: 8 July 2022
ACID, the UK's membership and campaigning organisation for design and IP, marks this year's British IP Day celebrations with the launch of its new ACID IP Charter.
Browse ACID's new look website at www.acid.uk.com
First mooted by ACID and established in 2016 by the Alliance for Intellectual Property, British IP Day is an annual celebration of the role that intellectual property plays in the cultural standing and economic success of the United Kingdom, underpinning innovation and creative excellence.
Posted: 7 July 2022
Inside Out Toys (IOT) has become the sole UK distributor of a range of puzzles and games made from recycled card by Scratch Europe, adding to its portfolio of sustainable toy brands.
IOT will launch the brand at the Home & Gift Buyers Festival in Harrogate next month, when stock will be available for immediate delivery.
Fuelled by its recent success at the Gift of the Year Awards with two of its brands, the family-owned and run small business is dedicated to growing its business in the sustainable toy and gift market and decided to complement its existing brands by adding a range of jigsaw puzzles.
Posted: 6 July 2022
