Welcome to the October/November issue of Progressive Gifts & Home, and what a rollercoaster few weeks it’s been for the industry!
The good news is that we were absolutely thrilled to recognise and reward the cream of gift retail at the fabulous Greats Awards in September. The sun shone, the champagne glasses clinked, and the joy of being out and about at such a fabulous event, enjoying the late Autumn sunshine, was just the thing to make everyone come together as an industry.
If you weren’t able to be there, click through to pages 18 and 19 to see our joyous party pics, and click through to pages 20-27 to see who this year’s winners are (if you don’t know already!).
Also, re-uniting us as industry were trade shows Autumn Fair and Top Drawer. The shows may have been smaller, but both exhibitors and visitors were there to do business, with retailers out in force to buy not browse. For Progressive Gifts & Home, a highlight of Autumn Fair was being offered an exclusive interview with retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis following his packed seminar. Click through to pages 43-45 to read Theo’s words of retail wisdom.
Meanwhile, with Christmas around the corner, we’ve tracked down what’s trending this year – the gifts that will be popped into stockings or under the Christmas tree and more. Click through to pages 31-37. And if it’s licensed giftware you’re after, click through to pages 47-49 where we’ve got some more gift ideas for you.
Talking of celebrations, it was lovely to reminisce with Nigel Biggs, ceo of Rex London, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. It was fun looking back at some of the ‘80s ‘hot hits’ while discovering what will be taking the company forward in 2022. Click through to pages 28-29.
Unfortunately though, it hasn’t all been good news. Stock issues have continued to dominate, leading to de-motivating ‘Christmas is cancelled’ headlines in the media. We asked a cross-section of gift suppliers and gift retailers for the current lowdown. Click through to pages 14-17.
And finally, back to some good news; we’re delighted to welcome Ali Farrell to the PG&H team as advertisement manager.
Previously with Housewares magazine, many of you will already have met Ali at trade shows and at The Greats Awards, so expect to see and hear much more from her over the coming months!
To read the issue, CLICK HERE.
Sue
Sue Marks
Editor
