Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 10 - September/October 2021

10 Industry news BATH HOUSE REPACKAGES SKINCARE PRODUCTS; REMOVES PLASTIC BOTTLES AND JARS Cumbrian-based fragrance and skincare brand Bath House has recently repackaged its natural skincare products, removing plastic bottles and jars and championing the mantra – Refill, Reuse and Recycle. Using contemporary aluminium and glass bottles instead of plastic, Bath House has partnered with TerraCycle so that many of its bathing and bodycare products can now be endlessly filled using refill pouches. While these are made with plastic, they use 85% less plastic than a conventional bottle and can also be recycled by TerraCycle to make items such as furniture and playground equipment. Nigel Brooks one of the founders at the Bath House, says, “With issues of climate change in the news, we took a long hard look at what we were creating. Our first step was when Bath House became certified as part of the Green Small Business Initiative.” This gave the business a road map towards improving and maintaining good environmental practices such as working with F.S.C. paper and board, and achieving objectives like carbon-neutral status, and opting into paying the Real Living Wage. For wholesale the Bath House team has put together a collection of their bestselling products and are now looking for like-minded stores, who share or are striving for a more sustainable approach to business. www.thebathhouseshop.com Catch up on all the latest in our news round up ANDERSON ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLISHING VENTURE Anderson Entertainment, the company founded by Gerry Anderson – the man behind shows as Thunderbirds and Space:1999 as well as modern hits like Space Precinct and the 2005 reimagining of Captain Scarlet – has announced its entry into the direct-to-consumer publishing business. Books in a wide selection of formats – including hardbacks, coffee table books, comic anthologies, series guides, audiobooks and more – will soon be launched. They will be based on classic Anderson properties, as well as many new Anderson projects in production or planned. The new books will be aimed at a vast, and still growing, audience. The direct-to-consumer approach builds on the strength of the online Gerry Anderson shop and Anderson Entertainment social and owned channels – with access to over 150,000 fans. This approach will allow Anderson Entertainment to market effectively by initially targeting its strong customer community. Following the direct-to-consumer publishing business being established, the books will also be made available through the mainstream book trade. The publishing project begins with novels – a series of stories originally published in the 1960s and 1970s. These books are now being reprinted and repackaged for a modern audience. In particular, the books will target a growing fan base of all ages now able to access Anderson classics on both linear and streaming services. The books will be available in four formats: as physical print books in hardback (with slight adjustments to the content for a 2021 audience), as Kindle e-books, as digital audio downloads and as packaged audiobooks, including extras. Thunderbirds: Terror from the Stars , an adaptation of John Theydon’s 1965 book Thunderbirds , is the first of the new books. The audiobook version features both narration and a full cast, with characters voiced by such major names as Dead Ringers favourite Jon Culshaw and Harry Potter star Genevieve Gaunt. The packaged audiobook comes in a four-CD set that includes a behind-the-scenes documentary. All physical formats are being made available at the Gerry Anderson online store from July. The digital download audiobook version is now available and is also being sold on the website of Anderson Entertainment production partner Big Finish, while e-book releases will be available globally via Amazon. More titles will appear on a monthly basis from this summer. The growth plans follow a new agreement with rights holder ITV Studios, which allows Anderson Entertainment to expand its ranges of product derived from its classic brands. This agreement will enable not only published output but also a wide range of new and innovative products inspired by the Gerry Anderson creations. THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION’S PODCAST FEATURES IN TOP 20 RETAIL PODCASTS The Giftware Associations podcast The Prodcast, which celebrates the home and gift industry, has been featured in a top 20 list of retail podcasts. Best Startup website featured the podcast amongst others focussing on UK retail, with a curated list of the best podcasts out there. Best Startup says, “We have selected these podcasts for a variety of reasons, but they are all well worth a listen. We tried to select a variety of podcasts across the spectrum from hosts with a wide breadth of experience.” The Prodcast was set up initially to celebrate the Gift of the Year winners, however, it quickly became the home of interviewing and finding out more about our industry and its key players. Over its many episodes the GA has featured buyers, suppliers, trade shows, services providers and experts on the high street. Listen to the podcast via a streaming service or through the Gift of the Year website www.giftoftheyear.co.uk