Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - January / February 2021

14 NEXTRADE ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL SHOWROOMS WITH INTEGRATED ORDER FUNCTION A new highlight feature has been added onto the B2B marketplace Nextrade, with suppliers now able to set up a virtual showroom that is directly connected to the Nextrade order system. Orders can be placed from the showroom without system interruption. Suppliers on Nextrade can now open an exclusive, virtual showroom with their own brand profile and highlights of their product range. According to Messe Frankfurt, the introduction of this feature is the B2B marketplace’s answer to the growing demand for digital product presentations enabling spatial experiences in 3D. Nicolaus Gedat, managing director of nmedia GmbH, says, “By setting up their showroom, brands appear in an innovative presentation environment. This inspires retailers and offers support in the presentation of goods.” The showrooms were developed in close cooperation with Frankfurt technology provider The Vatrix. Philipp Ferger, managing director of nmedia GmbH, explains, “With The Vatrix we have a leading expert in the field of virtual and augmented reality on our side. In addition, the showrooms have a unique functionality: Through the link with Nextrade, the products can be ordered directly from the showrooms.” By clicking on individual products within the showroom, retailers automatically access the product description in the supplier’s Nextrade shop and can place their orders seamlessly from there. Brands on Nextrade open up new touchpoints with their retailers by opening their showrooms on several channels, as the integration of the showrooms is possible not only on the brand’s Nextrade shop but also on its own website and other online presences. Suppliers can choose showrooms in four different sizes and price categories from a modular system. The product presentation includes the integration of released images and 3D objects. www.nextrade.market BLOOMSBURY MILL WINS GOLD FOR BEST BEDDING AT MOTHER & BABY AWARDS 2021 Bloomsbury Mill has won Gold for Best Bedding at the Mother & Baby Awards 2021 for its Safari Animals Duvet Set. The judges were said to have been impressed with the easy-care cotton blend, how well it washed, that it required minimal ironing and made bed changes a breeze thanks to super quick poppers. The fun vibrant design was a winner with the mini judges who adored counting the flamingos, lions and giraffes. Matching curtains are available to create a Safari Animals theme for your budding explorer’s nursery. www.bloomsburymill.com GB EYE TO EXPAND PREMISES AS ONLINE SALES SOAR Sheffield-based company GB eye is set to cut the ribbon on the expansion of its warehouse facilities, as it takes on a new unit in response to increased online sales as consumer buying trends shift during the prolonged lockdown. With the surge in online retailing, leading giftware licensee GB eye is opening an additional warehouse to efficiently serve its online fulfilment process. Working closely with its internal logistics team, the warehouse will look to cater for the processing and packing of Amazon and GBPosters.com consumer orders whilst the main warehouse will continue to serve its retail customer orders. The new facility is situated directly opposite its main premises in Sheffield allowing for ease of access and to ensure a streamlined process that will serve to benefit both its consumer and retail customers with the expedition of the processing times. Joanne Copley-Dunn, commercial director at GB eye said, “Consumer demand throughout lockdown has demonstrated the relevancy of our product lines to today’s shopper. Our extensive collection of licences makes us a one-stop shop for consumers. Seeing continued growth of our online sales channels, our aim is to separate the process so that we can better cater for our online channels whilst maintaining a first class service for our retail customers who continue to support us and purchase products from us in ever-increasing quantities, particularly over the last few months.” The new facility opened in October in the build-up to what proves to be a busy Q4 for the company as consumer demands skyrocket in the build-up to Christmas gifting. ELMER SIGNS TWO NEW LICENSEES Metrostar, licensing agent for Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, has announced that two new licensees have joined the programme. Danilo will publish calendars, greetings cards, gift wrap and bags and Robert Frederick will create gifts, arts & crafts and stationery. Existing licensees are also busy working on new Elmer products. Amscan has renewed its dress up licence and Rainbow Designs is adding new lines to their Elmer portfolio. Paul Dennicci has also developed the first Elmer babywear collection for Primark. New products will be launched from all in 2021. Claire Potter, Metrostar’s managing director comments, “Elmer is proving to be a very reliable performer in a number of product categories across an increasingly large retail base. Metrostar started working on Elmer in 2016 and in every year since he has gained new licensees and added new retailers to the programme. As well as the addition of Danilo and Robert Frederick, in 2021 we will see new Elmer products in Primark, Sainsbury’s, Matalan, John Lewis and Waterstones. www.metrostarmedia.co.uk