Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 12 - May/June 2021

12 SME BREXIT SUPPORT FUND NOW OPEN FOR BOOKINGS Through its international division British Jewellery & Giftware International, the British Allied Trades Federation is now listed as an official customs training provider on Gov.uk. Eligible jewellery, giftware, travel goods and accessories and surface engineering businesses can now apply for up to £2,000 through the SME Brexit Support Fund and access sector specific professional advice and guidance including interactive workshops with specialist advisors hosted by British Jewellery and Giftware International (BJGI), now listed as customs training provider. Taran Sahota, international services manager for BJGI said, “We recognise the challenges our sector businesses have faced recently, so we welcome this great initiative from the government to support our industries’ small businesses who have struggled to trade with the EU this year. We encourage all eligible SMEs to take advantage of this funding and receive the support that their business requires. BJGI is on hand to help with the application process.” Eligible companies who trade with the EU can apply for the SME Brexit Support Fund for up to £2,000 in total through two types of grants. Businesses can apply to receive a grant for training and or a grant for professional advice. The grant can then be used to cover costs for specialist training, advice and support available through BJGI to ensure businesses can continue to trade with the EU effectively. The grants can be used to cover the following areas: • How to complete customs declarations • How to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems • Specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin • Professional advice, so your business can meet its customs, excise, import VAT or safety and security declaration requirements Sector specific guidance for jewellery, giftware, travel goods and accessories and surface engineering businesses BJGI will be hosting a series of sector specific interactive workshops delivered by International Trade specialists along with offering one to one advice to businesses. The workshops will aid in providing clarity and guidance for businesses to ensure they continue to trade with the EU with minimal disruption, covering areas most demanding in the sector, such as Rules of Origin, Inward and Outward processing, VAT, customs declarations and setting up an entity in the EU. All workshops will last approximately two-three hours and will consist of small groups to allow continuous interaction between the attendees and the training provider and also ensuring the training and advice provided is concise and tailored to individual business needs. Eligible businesses can apply to claim back all associated costs from the Brexit Support Fund. For more information email international@batf.uk.com THE SEED CARD COMPANY LAUNCHES ECO-FRIENDLY AND VEGAN GREETINGS CARDS, PERSONAL STATIONERY AND WEDDING SUITES Launching this month, The Seed Card Company offers a range of beautifully designed eco-friendly greetings cards, personal stationery and wedding suites, which are all made from post-consumer waste embedded with wildflowers or recycled pre and post-consumer eco- friendly board and printed with vegan inks. Partnering with global reforestation effort, Ecologi, each time a card or stationery suite is purchased, The Seed Card Company and Ecologi will plant a tree. Sharing a love for print and a desire to play their part in creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly environment, The Seed Card Company was set up by Lewis Stevenson of Leeming Brothers Fine Stationery, and Kay and Jit Patel of luxury wedding and event stationery company Intricate Creations – all three are directors, sharing the responsibilities of running the business, and all design and production is carried out in-house. The Seed Card Company has also put in place a dedicated PR and social team to drive consumer awareness of the products. Lewis Stevenson says, “In 2019 the greetings card industry was worth £1.7 billion, not including online retailers and sales. With the events of 2020 and the continuing lockdown, people have been sending more greetings cards than before. While the eco-friendly arm of the stationery industry is gaining traction at an unprecedented rate, with programmes such as Blue Planet II making manufacturers and consumers more aware of the huge environmental problem plastic and non-sustainable products are having on our ecosystem and the health of the planet, we created The Seed Card Company to offer a genuinely sustainable and eco-friendly greetings card alternative.” The Seed Card Company cards are made entirely from post-consumer upcycled paper waste, meaning no trees are harmed in their manufacturing process. They are recyclable, biodegradable, and embedded with a mixture of six wildflower seed types including Bird’s Eye, Clarkia, Black Eyed Susan, Catchfly, Snapdragon and Sweet Alyssum. Visit www.theseedcardcompany.com SOPHIE LA GIRAFFE CELEBRATES 60 TH ANNIVERSARY Sophie la giraffe is celebrating its 60 th anniversary this May, and to mark this milestone a limited- edition design has been voted for by the fans to decide a one-time design, which will be available in September 2021. Sophie la giraffe has become famous with families around the world and been trusted by millions of parents to sooth gums and bring joy to little ones. A classic, cross-generational toy, Sophie la girafe remains the world’s bestselling teething toy and is designed to stimulate the senses and soothe teething pains. Made from 100% natural rubber (Phthalate- free) derived from the sap of the Hevea tree, Sophie’s flexible, renewable, natural materials and non-toxic food grade paint mean she is a safe and natural teething toy. Sophie is still produced traditionally in France using a closely guarded process involving 14 manual operations.