Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 92 - May/June 2021

THE HEALTHY BACK BAG RELAUNCHES ITS SUCCESSFUL ‘BACK TO BUSINESS’ CAMPAIGN The Healthy Back Bag Company is re- launching its successful ‘Back to Business’ retailer support programme with the aim of helping its retailers attract customers back into their stores as they re-open from April 12 th . Following the success of the campaign last year, the company recognised that stock liability and footfall are yet again amongst the top concerns as retail emerges from lockdown over the coming months. Available to all retailers, this simple, free and easily applied promotional package is designed to help retailers sell Healthy Back Bags. The ‘Back to Business’ package consists of free stock for gift-with-purchase, a comprehensive point of sale package, social media support and an optional match-funded targeted Facebook advertising campaign. Last year well over half of Healthy Back Bag retailers participated in the scheme and of those, sales increased by at least 30% and in some cases up to 200%. Priscilla Chase, managing director says, “We are heartened to have so many retailers get involved with this promotion. The last year has been a real trauma for so many of us and our business was hit hard by the closing of high street retail. We are acutely aware that all of us; suppliers, brands and retailers alike, need to pull together and do all we can to help each other and is why we came up with the support package. We have run similar promotions successfully in the past with many of our retailers uplifting Healthy Back Bag sales by up to 200%, so we realised that this is the time to show our support and help our retailers back on their feet.” The promotion was originally launched in July 2020 and is free and available to all Healthy Back Bag retailers. www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk SUFFOLK ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES NEW ECO BAGS FOR KIDS Emily Vigor, founder of Jex clothing, has launched a new eco bag for kids. The new colour-in eco bags are available directly from the Jex website and from partners, Not on the High Street and Joules. Emily is also in talks with new stockists. Speaking about the brand, Emily says, “The gifts from Jex are not solely focussed on “educating” children in the traditional sense. If this year has taught us anything is that education comes in all forms, not just classroom based! Jex is about encouraging kids – and adults along the way if we can! – that it is ok to be our own kind of unique and express ourselves in whatever way they want, there are no boundaries or labels, just them as themselves, always.” The bags are being launched in line with Jex’ third birthday. Emily says, “The world is changing, and we need to adapt. Younger generations – our kids – are so eco- conscious and aware of the environment that surrounds them and the impact they have on it. As adults, and businesses, we need to follow their lead and give them options to still be creative but with the least amount of impact on the world they will inherit. I have no doubt that even as a small company there is more, we can do to support this, and this is our first step in doing that.” Contact emily@jexshoes.com or visit www.jexshoes.com WATCHFINDER & CO REMOVES GENDER CLASSIFICATIONS Luxury watch retailer Watchfinder & Co is said to be the first UK watch seller to remove gender labels from its operations, including its website and all stores. The company will instead label the watches as small, medium or large. The industry-first move has seen the brand launch a campaign with award-winning music artist Tinie Tempah –calling for all jewellery and watches to be made genderless as standard. The brand is urging manufacturers to follow suit and refer to watches by their size alone and ditch the ‘redundant, restrictive and outdated’ gender model, which labels certain watches as only suitable for those of a particular sex, undermining people’s personal tastes and size choices. The move follows a trend amongst celebrities and consumers alike for subverting stereotypes and wearing watches originally designed for – and marketed solely to – the opposite sex. Matt Bowling, co-founder of Watchfinder & Co said, “We feel that categorising a watch as either men’s or women’s is now both redundant, restrictive and outdated. Everyone should be able to choose whatever style they want, without being dictated as to whether it is suitable for their gender or not. “By removing the men’s and women’s categories from our business we are encouraging customers to explore and discover more watches, helping them find the right watch for them. With a large proportion of men’s watches getting smaller and women’s watches getting bigger, we feel that gender categories are now obsolete.” www.watchfinder.co.uk 92