Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 117)

10 Recognised by industry Robert Anslow, managing director of Harrogate Christmas & Gift, was recognised for his exceptional contribution to the toy and nursery industry recently, receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Progressive Preschool Awards in London. Also director of Harrogate International Nursery Fair and The Baby Products Association, Robert is a supporter of child safety serving on several British and European safety standards committees and acting as an expert witness in coroner’s courts and criminal and civil courts on cases concerning product compliance. He’s also worked on patent and copyright problems in the toy and nursery products industry. Robert’s career in the childcare products industry began in 1971 with his family-owned business Charlesworth Developments manufacturing nursery and toy products. In recent years, Robert has led the Baby Products Association to become a voice of the industry at European level as a founding member of the Europe Nursery Products Confederation (ENPC) where he’s now vice-president having served as president for four years. Rob Willis of Progressive Preschool magazine, which hosted the event, commented: “Robert is one of the unsung heroes of our industry, whose longstanding work indirectly affects most of our day to day businesses without us actually realising it. He’s a gentleman who gives generously to charity and goes out of his way to support colleagues in the industry.” MY GIFTS TRADE COLLABORATES WITH MARIE CURIE AND I LIKE BIRDS British home and giftware manufacturer, My Gifts Trade, is at the centre of a wonderful new collaboration between Marie Curie and iconic British brand, i like birds, with 10 per cent from product sales will be donated to the British palliative care charity. Launching at Spring Fair 2020 (Hall 8 Stand C60-C71; B70-C71), the new licensed collection will feature a charming daffodil and blue tit design created by i like birds founder, Stuart Cox, exclusively for Marie Curie. Ten per cent of the proceeds from every piece sold will be donated to the charity, helping them continue to provide care and support for people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones. Marie Curie is a charity very close to Stuart’s heart, as he explains: “Years ago I was made homeless after leading a bit of a reckless life and falling out of touch with my family in Brighton for years. When I started to find my feet again, I got back in touch by sending my mum some illustrations, to somehow let her know that everything was alright. “Two weeks later she was diagnosed with a super rare cancer of the spine and we were told she did not have long left to live. She managed a year, the last part of which was in a hospice, where they managed to turn what should have been the worst days of my life into a beautiful celebration of her life. The hospice let her go out in a gentle and graceful way, with views of the birds from her window, so it’s a cause close to my heart and not a charity collaboration that’s been plucked out of thin air. “Within a year I also lost one of my brothers and my dad and the illustrations were stuffed into a drawer because I was unable to look at them. Years later they were found there by a friend who suggested I get some printed as cards so they could sell them in their local café. I went along with his idea and they went through more than 1,000 in the first month! Paperchase soon got wind of this and approached me.” The rest, as they say, is history, with Stuart’s instantly recognisable illustrations of much-loved British birds and flowers now appearing on an array of beautiful licensed products, including the highly successful gift and homeware collection developed in partnership with My Gifts Trade. The new collection for Marie Curie will include home textiles and accessories, ceramic products and a lovely decorative pin. Joanna Mazzotta, Product Development & Creative at Marie Curie said: “I was very attracted to Stuart’s designs. They are simple yet beautiful and the bold fun graphic added a design style we’d not explored before. I thought they’d marry well with incorporating the daffodil – our emblem – and tell a story about how important and joyful nature at the Marie Curie hospices are for the patients.” For more information on My Gifts Trade visit: mygiftstrade.co.uk MARMALADE’S GLOBAL EXPANSION PLAN “We have started the Massive Marmalade expansion plan,” comments owner of Marmalade of London, Piers Flook. “The brand-new eco-friendly factory, offices and design studios have been purchased and the building is underway, the frame is up and all should all be finished in April/ May, 2020. “We have a new seven-year expansion plan with an accompanying £25 million-pound sales and marketing budget. In 2020, we’ll be increasing our size and presence at International trade shows and will open our new permanent Dallas and Las Vegas showrooms. Our target is to build Marmalade into a £150 million brand in International retail sales. “We’re very excited about developing new and exciting products for 2020/21. We’ve started with a collaboration with Mosney Mill, we share a love of the English countryside and the endangered Bumble Bee and so have collaborated to create this beautiful collection called Marmalade Mosney Mill Botanicals. The fragrances are quintessentially English country garden, bursting with floral notes and all lovingly packaged using Mosney Mill’s gorgeous illustrations. The range is also good news for bees, as we’re donating five per cent of the gross profit from all trade sales to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust whose work is absolutely invaluable.” For further information, visit marmaladeoflondon.com