Industry news from Gift Focus magazine

INDX Shows go national; reveals exciting plans for 2025

INDX is back and better than ever. Expect a calendar packed with buying focused events, a fresh market approach, and a completely revamped look and feel. Plus, a new website and revamped brand identity.

The following events will proudly claim National titles starting in 2025: INDX Kids becomes the INDX National Kidswear Show, INDX Man becomes the INDX National Menswear Show and INDX Intimate Apparel becomes the INDX National Intimate Apparel Show.

The following event titles have been revamped to better reflect the inclusivity and diversity of their product showcases: INDX Homewares becomes INDX Home, INDX Beds & Bedroom becomes INDX Beds, and INDX Toy & Gift becomes INDX Toys, while INDX Furniture, INDX Woman, INDX Sports & Leisure, and INDX Gift Food show titles remain unchanged.

Posted: 12 September 2024

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Autumn Fair draws in high-calibre buyers

Autumn Fair, the UK's leading seasonal trade event for Home, Gift, and Fashion, has once again solidified its position as a key order-writing trade event, drawing in a high-calibre of decision-makers and influential buyers. This season saw a 6% increase in buyers actively looking to source and buy new products, a 20% rise in the number of buyers with sole or joint purchasing responsibility, and 30% brand new buyers, underscoring the event's continuing importance for the retail industry.

Posted: 12 September 2024

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Lily Arkwright Brings Ethical Jewellery to Scotland with new Glasgow showroom

Ethical jeweller Lily Arkwright has announced the opening of its first Scottish showroom in Glasgow, bringing its stunning collection of lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, and ethically sourced coloured gemstones to a whole new audience.

Lily Arkwright has been at the forefront of the ethical jewellery movement in the UK. Specialising in sustainable lab-grown stones, the company offers a lab grown, conflict-free and environmentally conscious diamonds.

The new Glasgow showroom provides a welcoming and convenient space for customers to explore Lily Arkwright's collection. With expert staff on hand to offer guidance and answer questions, visitors can find the perfect piece of jewellery for any occasion.

"We're incredibly excited to open our first showroom in Scotland," says Philip Dawson.

Posted: 9 September 2024

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Top Drawer presents a ‘Whirlwind of Change’ with the opening of its A/W24 show

Top Drawer, the UK's premier design-led buying event, opened its doors for the A/W season yesterday. Welcoming buyers and store owners to embrace the 'whirlwind of change' that is the current retail climate. This edition showcases more than 500 exhibiting brands across the most in-demand lifestyle sectors.

The show's flagship sectors–Home, Gift, Greetings & Stationery, Play, Craft, Fashion, Food Emporium and Wellbeing–are complimented by Launchpad, a presentation of emerging brands from across all sectors who are new to the market.

Event Director, David Westbrooke said: "Top Drawer has a long, proud legacy of presenting store owners and buyers with products that will set their offering apart from the rest, and resonate with their customers."

Posted: 9 September 2024

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The Gift Fair Launches its Future Star Award

The Gift Fair is thrilled to launch its Future Star Award. This award celebrates newcomers with exceptional potential to the UK Gift industry.

This award will provide a launchpad for talented entrepreneurs to show off their wonderful products in way they might not otherwise have the opportunity to.

This year, we were spoilt for choice so two wonderful companies have been selected, it was just too hard to pick one! The Gift Fair Future Star awards go to Cheeky Legends www.arrthi.com for their colourful and cheeky greetings cards and Little Roglets www.littleroglets.com for their beautifully painted animal collection.

Cheeky Legends was created by Arrthi Little, a cartoonist based in Hampshire creating entertaining characters in her signature style 'Cute, Chubby, Cheeky'.

Posted: 4 September 2024

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New online gift tradeshow set to launch in 2025

The Gift Fair is an online gift tradeshow, set to take place from January 8th- February 28th, 2025.

Organised by Fabian Santoro and his team, this exciting platform hosts trade shows that work around you not the other way around. The platform is not like anything you've seen before – it's not a website, directory or meeting scheduler. Every aspect is designed to make trade shows faster, cheaper, easier and better. You can speak to real people in real time via instant messaging, video chat, exchange business cards and much more.

You can find established brands like Professor Puzzle, LifeCharms and Swing Cards as well as the hottest newcomers like Cosmic Cuties and BangoBerry.

Posted: 2 September 2024

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Celebrating 20 Years of Laura Darrington Design

"As I sit down to reflect on the past two decades, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride at the journey Laura Darrington Design has taken," shares owner Laura. "What began as a simple idea after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000 has grown into something far greater than I ever could have imagined. This year marks the 20th anniversary of my business, and I couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the people who have been with me every step of the way."

Laura continues...

Posted: 2 September 2024

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Autumn Fair starts Sunday!

This Sunday, the NEC Birmingham will come alive with the return of Autumn Fair, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift & Fashion. Running from 1st to 4th September 2024, this year's event promises to be a hub of inspiration and opportunity, with over 800 suppliers presenting more than half a million products. With 30 per cent of brands exhibiting exclusively at Autumn Fair, it's the ultimate destination for retailers looking to discover the latest trends and stock their shelves ahead of the festive season.

Posted: 29 August 2024

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Studio Pens becomes new UK distributor for soap brand Marius Fabre 

Anyone operating in the giftware industry can now order Marius Fabre from its exclusive new UK distributor, Studio Pens.

Marius Fabre is as emblematic of the country's southern Provence region as lavender fields and cicadas, and the all-natural and sustainable olive oil-based products are suitable for a host of daily uses. Palm oil free, the 100 percent vegetable-based natural biodegradable products are environmentally friendly, and the packaging is entirely recyclable. Some of the range is also Ecocert certified and organic.

The family that has been making the traditional Marseille soap since the 1900's has signed an exclusive deal with distributor, Studio Pens, which will see the Harrogate based father and daughter run company supplying the luxurious product range to retailers throughout the UK.

Posted: 26 August 2024

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UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts Industry welcome New Secretary and Minister of State

The UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts industry welcomes the appointment of Lisa Nandy MP and Sir Chris Bryant MP as new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister of State (DCMS), respectively.

In letters to both ministers, the industry-wide group expressed its desire to continue open communications with the government to help drive the jewellery, silverware and allied trades forward.

Back in February, then shadow minister Sir Chris Bryant approached the National Association of Jewellers to host an industry-wide roundtable to better understand the industry's challenges, needs and opportunities. 25 individuals representing businesses and institutions throughout the breadth of the trade came together to outline the state of the industry and, in collaboration, its future direction.

Posted: 26 August 2024

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