Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 11 - May/June 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS 11 EXACLAIR EXPANDS SAFETY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING PRODUCT OFFERING ExaClair Limited, the UK subsidiary of the Exacompta-Clairefontaine Group, has expanded its selection of premium quality sign holders and introduced self-adhesive safety and social distancing signs for communicating important information. The new freestanding sign holders are perfect for counter and desk top use. Available in a range of sizes from A4 to A8, and made from premium quality acrylic ensuring very high transparency, rigidity, shock and UV resistance. Complying with workplace health and safety regulations, Exacompta’s colour coded safety and social distancing self-adhesive signs are made from non-slip treated PVC, so they can be safely stuck to the floor or wall. These new items complement Exacompta’s growing PPE and safety products range, which includes protective screens, masks, visors, floor standing signs and Clean’Safe® antimicrobial notebooks, desktop accessories and filing products. Lawrence Savage, Marketing Manager at ExaClair, says these new additions offer assistance in creating a safer workplace environment, “In accordance with government guidelines placed over the past year, businesses have had to adapt their premises to ensure that their employees and visitors are protected against the spread of Covid-19. These products continue to help businesses fulfil their health and safety obligations to both staff and customers.” For more details, please visit www.exaclairlimited.com FROM ME TO YOU SHORTLISTED FOR SMALL PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR From Me To You, a family-run publishing business based in Bath, has been recognised by The Bookseller as one of the best small publishers in the UK as it announced its shortlist for this year’s celebration of the best books, bookshops and publishers in the country. From Me To You, the creator of beautiful and emotive gift books and journals, has seen its worldwide sales grow by 90 percent year on year, with significant growth in the UK and U.S. Distinctive and creative marketing drove greater awareness of its range of award-winning books and journals that came into their own during lockdown. Providing much needed solace for people who were away from their family and friends, many people took the time to capture and send memories and messages of love. The company offers its products to a variety of markets and whilst high-street retailers were closed, sales growth came from third party online sales with significant growth on its own website particularly their personalised journal and book offering. Many high- street retailers developed their own online presence during their closure and have included the From Me To You’s personalised offering on their new websites. Neil Coxon, managing director, said “Our family oriented caring products and supportive approach across diverse markets has been just what was needed during lockdown and as people have had time to reflect on what it important in their lives our sales continue to grow as we emerge towards our ‘new normal’. We have also learnt what has worked well and spent time, while all our people were working from home, delivering our strategic plans; actions that often do not get done whilst the distractions of day to day business prevent the focus. “Will we return to our office soon? Yes, we will, in order to build our culture, recruit new people and truly get creative together, but we also know we can balance our efforts and family life by working remotely more frequently. Family products and family values truly aligned. More importantly though, we need to meet up to celebrate this great recognition from the book industry!” www.frommetoyou.com UNIVERSITY GAMES TAKES STEPS TO PROTECT WORK TOWARDS A GREENER FUTURE Games, puzzles and gift specialist University Games is taking positive strides to improve its environmental impact in 2021, making significant steps towards a greener future. The company also has created a new ‘Taking Steps to Protect Our Planet’ logo to help enforce its message. University Games now offers a portfolio of over 700 games, puzzles and gifts, following the acquisition of The Lagoon Group last summer, the majority of which utilise cardboard in either their production or packaging process. According to Richard Wells, Manging Director at University Games, “Environmental concerns have always been high on our agenda but now, as individuals and as a business, we all have to do more every day to help protect our planet. Our commitment is to actively move to significantly reduce single use plastic throughout the product and packaging process, removing shrink wrap and all other single use plastic from all our games and puzzles wherever possible. We will also ensure that our outer packaging and product packaging are fully recycled and fully recyclable wherever possible, so keep a look out for our new ‘Taking Steps to Protect Our Planet’ logo. “We all have our part to play in helping to sustain and protect our planet, it is not just for ourselves but for future generations.” www.university-games.co.uk 