The July/August issue of Progressive Gifts & Home is a very special one, celebrating the magazine’s 25th silver anniversary!
We reminisce with some of the gift companies who were around in the day – to include Collectables, Frith Sculpture, Gisela Graham, Heart of the Country, Joe Davies, Lesser & Pavey and Widdop and Co – who are all still movers and shakers in gifts in 2018.
Companies not only share their memories with us, but also discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a gift company in today’s business environment. As you’ll discover, the feature is a fascinating trip down memory lane – it’s great fun to see what was trending and what the challenges were a quarter of a century ago (click through to pages 47-55).
This issue also fanfares the winners of the fabulous Greats Gift Retailer Awards held in May. Themed The ‘Greats’ Gatsby, and held at London’s glittering Grosvenor House on Park Lane, a seat at The Greats Awards was certainly the hot ticket, with some 400 guests packing into the Ballroom to see the great and the good in gifts retail recognised and rewarded. For those who weren’t able to be there, we’ve opened up the photo album (click through to pages 27-29). To see who the winners were, and to discover their initial reactions to hearing their shop names called out (click through to pages 31-45).
Elsewhere in this issue, we catch up with Mr Cool himself, Oliver Tress, founder and managing director of Oliver Bonas (click through to pages 63-65); Fenwick’s Louisa Brenton reveals how she’s putting her stamp on the gift department in the new Fenwick Bracknell store (click through to pages 57-59); we discover what’s trending in jewellery and fashion accessories (click through to pages 67-69), and find out who’s drinking what in our glassware feature (click through to pages 89-91). Plus, with buying for Christmas coming round now, our feature on nursery and children’s gifts will give you the lowdown for the coming season (click through to pages 81-83).
Other features in the issue include A ‘Great’ War Partnership, with Heart of the Country explaining why the company has partnered with the Royal British Legion to raise £36,500 to celebrate the centenary of the Armistice (click through to page 61).
We also turn the spotlight on Xystos, where Tom Sykes reveals what the company will be unveiling at Home & Gift, Harrogate (click through to pages 77-79), and take a look at the ‘smart’ products that led the way at the recent Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair (click through to page 87).
Plus, there are more insightful views from our columnists. Nic Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln in West Hallam, champions the independent retailer (click through to page 25) while Lesley Dunne, owner of Feathering Your Nest in Rayleigh, asks whether big events such as the Royal Wedding help or hinder sales (click through to page 117).
We also introduce a brand new feature this month, Behind The Counter which turns the spotlight on an outstanding, talented retail employee. As winner of The Greats Retail Employee of the Year 2018 award, we put Peter de la Mare, shop manager at England at Home in Brighton, into the hot seat (click through to page 118).
Click here to read the full edition of Progressive Gifts & Home online.
Top: PG&H July/August.
