Candlelight, a leading designer of candles, gifts, and home fashion is proud to announce an exciting new collaboration with Amefa in the UK, who distributes market leading brands, Amefa and Richardson Sheffield, to the catering and retail sector. This partnership represents a significant milestone for both companies as they come together to bring an exceptional range of products to a wider audience.
As part of this joint venture, Amefa GB's entire portfolio of products will now be available for purchase on the Candlelight website, offering customers an expanded selection of high-quality products from two trusted brands in one convenient location.
Posted: 17 December 2024
Retro trends, preppy and Brat Girl fashions and travel returning to pre-covid levels were among the biggest influences on our shopping habits.
That's according to John Lewis's annual trend report How We Shop, Live and Look, which looks at the products and trends that defined the past year.
'Social shopping' is definitely in fashion. One in five (19 percent) of the 1,996 customers surveyed said they have shopped more with friends and family this year, and nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) of them said they like to combine it with other activities like eating out. This tallies with John Lewis data, which shows that more than three quarters of a million more customers ate in its Place to Eat restaurants over the past year.
Posted: 17 December 2024
Due to the hugely successful STABILO and Anya Hindmarch collaboration, both brands have now announced that the collection is being reproduced and will be stocked for a further year. STABILO is known across the globe for its high quality, bold designs with exceptional colour variety and its range with Anya Hindmarch certainly nods to its rich history. We're pleased it's here to stay!
Posted: 10 December 2024
Fanattik the award-winning UK based pop culture brand has signed a multi-territory, multi-year deal with Fuzzballs to produce a wide range of gifts. The deal was brokered by Fuzzballs licensing agent Rocket Licensing.
Fuzzballs is a UK brand created in 2013 by artist Marc Sach and product can be found on sale in the likes of WH Smith, Scribbler, HMV, Toymaster stores, Forbidden planet and over 1,000 independent retailers worldwide.
"I saw Marc at Comic Cons up and down the country over the years selling Fuzzball product and the crowds swamping his booth were incredible, he has worked incredibly hard growing the Fuzzball fan base all over the world, we are elated to be part of the Fuzzball journey," says Anthony Marks. M.D. Fanattik.
Posted: 9 December 2024
Stock buying lists at the ready; Pantone, the global colour authority and provider of professional colour language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. An evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires: cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort. "Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence" says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute. Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, it extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe; presenting a discrete and tasteful touch of glamour."
Posted: 6 December 2024
Hyve Group has announced an expansion of Spring Fair, with the addition of Pure from February 2025.
The Pure brand will transition to Spring Fair at Birmingham NEC to sit alongside Moda to create Moda x Pure. The strategic refocus will mark the conclusion of Pure London x JATC as a standalone event at London Olympia.
The move aims to strengthen Spring Fair's position as a destination for the fashion sector, driven by evolving market conditions and the desire for a more integrated buying space for fashion retailers. Spring Fair already attracts more relevant London-based buyers, making it a natural fit for this transition.
The move ensures that Pure's legacy continues, in a format that better meets the needs of today's fashion industry.
Posted: 5 December 2024
Source Home & Gift, the UK's sourcing show from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has partnered with trend consultancy Insider Trends to unveil a comprehensive report exploring the biggest trends shaping the pet and garden retail sectors.
The report, The Biggest Trends in Pet & Garden Retail, reveals how health-conscious consumers, eco-friendly practices, and tech-driven innovations are propelling growth in these dynamic markets.
The findings highlight significant consumer investment, with spending on pets reaching £9.89 billion in 2022, a staggering 182 percent growth since 2005, and garden retail climbing to £7.1 billion in 2022 (Statista). While pandemic lockdowns initially spurred this growth, the trends have proven to be enduring, driven by the emotional and wellbeing benefits tied to pet ownership and gardening.
Posted: 4 December 2024
Gift cards are proving to be a game-changer for retailers, offering a dual advantage of attracting new customers and driving incremental spend. Brands participating in multistore gift card schemes or offering their own gift cards are reaping the rewards, particularly from younger demographics like Millennials, who are embracing gift cards for their convenience and flexibility.
The latest research from the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) and Global Data highlights how gift cards are effective tool for channeling consumer behaviour by not only introducing new shoppers to brands but also encouraging them to 'upgarde' their purchase beyond the card's value.
Posted: 4 December 2024
Spring Fair, the UK's leading Home, Gift, and Fashion trade show taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has announced an impressive line-up of industry leading bellwether brands making the show the largest and most comprehensive marketplace in the UK with over 1,200 exhibitors and over 30,000 visitors expected to shop the whole show for their next best sellers.
As retailers in the UK become adept at leveraging product diversification to differentiate themselves and maintain competitiveness in an ever-evolving market, the scale and breadth of Spring Fair meets their needs in sourcing products from across all the show destinations.
Posted: 2 December 2024
Spring Fair, the UK's leading Home, Gift, and Fashion trade show taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has launched a new Greetings, Party & Celebration destination in Hall 3 packed full of inspirational brands, new events and activations.
The new destination now brings together the most creative, fun and colourful greeting cards, wrapping papers, stationery, paper decorations, and is the only destination to find the best party suppliers in the UK.
A series of exciting events and activations will honour the industry's vibrant spirit and the show's 75th anniversary. In collaboration with partners including the Greeting Card Association, Cardgains, The Art File, Paper Salad, and N Smith, both visitors and exhibitors are invited to join in the celebrations.
Posted: 27 November 2024
