Gift Focus - Nov/Dec 2019 (Issue 116)

INDUSTRY NEWS 9 JML INVESTS IN ELECTRONICS ACCESSORY BRAND IBEANI Innovative consumer products group JML has purchased a 50 per cent stake in DeVancer Ltd, the company behind the iBeani branded range of electronic tablet holders. DeVancer Ltd, based in Nottinghamshire, was founded in 2014 by Ashley Freer and Nigel Spencer. The core product line is the multi-award winning iBeani tablet bean bag stand, a range which provides universal use for iPhones, iPads, Kindles, e-readers and any other tablet computers. iBeani products are sold through independent retailers, Amazon and garden centres, with the company also managing corporate relationships that provide branded products for businesses. JML’s infrastructure, product sourcing and distribution network will allow iBeani to accelerate its growth plans. Ken Daly, CEO of JML, said, “iBeani is a great brand and we see a big opportunity to rapidly expand distribution and its range of products. We’ve developed a superb relationship with the company’s founders who have impressed us with their tenacity, energy and entrepreneurial acumen. We’re working closely with them and are providing resources to turbo-charge the business into a substantial operation.” DeVancer’s managing director Ashley Freer continued, “It’s a proud moment when an organisation such as JML sees potential in us and our uniquely designed product. We’re excited to learn from the great team at JML as we enter the next chapter of our business journey together. We have great ambitions for the iBeani brand and we are confident JML can help us achieve them, creating a successful global brand and a range of quality products that our consumers will love.” KITCHENCRAFT INVESTS IN A NEW HOME As a multi-generational business established nearly 170 years ago in Birmingham, KitchenCraft has once again invested in its roots with a new purpose-built warehouse and office facility on the outskirts of the city. The facility was opened by the Lord Mayor, with local business leaders, company partners, suppliers and customers also in attendance. As one of Birmingham’s most successful companies, KitchenCraft designs and develops more than 7,000 cooking, dining and serving items, supplying major department stores, independent cookshops and online retailers in over 80 countries worldwide, with several leading brands including MasterClass, Colourworks, Chef’n, Mikasa, La Cafetiere and Built in its range. KitchenCraft is owned by Lifetime Brands Inc. “It seemed only fitting that we design our own new home to reflect our business values with adequate provision for growth and development of the company over time,” states Rob Kay, chief executive officer, Lifetime Brands Inc. The 250,000 sq. ft new building at The Hub, a thriving business park on the outskirts of the city, was developed by IM properties. Around 200 jobs are moving from KitchenCraft’s current site in Garretts Green with all stock being consolidated into one warehouse from multiple sites. Matthew Canwell, KitchenCraft’s managing director, commented, “We are a service-driven business with customer service meaning everything to us. Our new home has been designed to fulfil that proposition in a way that we could not have previously achieved. It includes a 10,000 sq ft showroom where we can inspire our customers with product selection and display, an enhanced product testing facility, in-house design and photography facilities all supported by a state-of-the-art warehouse to enable a faster order turnaround for our retail customers. This has been our dream for a good few years.” PUCKATOR MD TACKLES 14,000KM DRIVE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN Puckator managing director Mark Howard has completed a 14,000km drive in a fundraising bid for charity Save the Children. While most managing directors want to make travelling around the world as easy and painless as possible, for Mark Howard, head of the giftware wholesaler and importer based in Cornwall, the challenge of a 14,000 km drive seemed irresistible. Mark, who spends on average four months a year in Puckator’s Xiamen office (China), stated, “I’ve had the idea of driving from Xiamen, China, to Cornwall UK, for a couple of years now. The planning has been long and full of challenges, but when it came to choosing a charity to support, the choice was simple. Save the Children is a charity close to my heart, the work it does to ensure the safety of children in times of crisis and provide them with a better future is incredible. I had hoped the trip would be well supported, but momentum really gathered pace along the way, and I am delighted that we have now smashed the original donation target of £10,000 for Save the Children.” The road to the UK was never going to be a straightforward one and departing from a very busy city in China, Mark buckled up for a bumpy ride. From congested roads, flat tyres, police checks and fuel embargos, Mark encountered a whole range of challenges before he even left China. Apart from that, a long drive saw him navigating mountains, driving across deserts and through steppe, while encountering sandstorms, a prairie fire, and counting camels and wild horses as the only sign of life. Congratulations, Mark, for raising money for such a great cause. For further information about the company, visit puckator.co.uk 