Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - Page number 11 - July/August 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS 11 RAILEX PARTNERS WITH MODENA TO LAUNCH A NEW RANGE OF PREMIUM NOTEBOOKS Filing, storage and stationery specialist, Railex, is partnering with Modena to bring a beautiful new range of notebooks to market. Each journal is fastened with a change from standard notebooks – a horizontal, colour-coordinated, flat elastic – carefully designed as a practical pen holder when the books are closed and to tuck away when open. Elizabeth Porter, chief executive of The Verat Group, which includes Brysdales and Railex, said, “Thoughtful attention to detail is at the heart of our new range, from the high-quality materials and hand-finish, to the expandable pocket on the inside back cover and the two-coloured page marker ribbons in every notebook.” Available in genuine premium soft leather or luxury linen touch hardback, the Modena Journals have two size options (A6 mini and A5 midi) and a choice of ruled or dotted matrix, printed on high quality FSC-certified ivory pages. The premium leather notebooks have been shortlisted for the 2021 Gift of the Year Awards by The Giftware Association and are available in six colour options. The ‘Natural World’ collection offers Conker Brown, Honeycomb and Raven Black, whilst the ‘Senses of Life’ collection includes Sage Meadow, Harbour Grey and Rose Dust. Eight more colour options are available with hardback luxury linen touch covers. The ‘Classic British’ range includes Graphite City, Admiral Blue, Maroon Beret and Racing Green, and the ‘Cocktail for One’ collection offers Mandarin Breeze, Lime Mojito, Raspberry Fizz and Blue Lagoon. Each journal features an emotive story starter, unique to the colour of the book, on the inside front panel – a daily reminder to create, chronicle, journey, invent, think and discover. www.modenajournals.co.uk HYVE GROUP TO LAUNCH ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR B2B RETAIL Hyve Group has launched the Spring & Autumn Fair Online Marketplace. The Online Marketplace takes the wholesale home, gift, and fashion business online, enabling trade with existing and new global partners throughout the year. The Online Marketplace is a brand extension to the heritage brands Spring & Autumn Fair, two live events which are now complemented by a 365 digital trading platform. It will allow brands to access serious, vetted buyers all year round, deepen relationships started at the live events at the NEC, generate leads and take online orders. Buyers can find new products from loved and trusted brands, discover new brands online, build their collections and shop with ease throughout the year. Having officially launched in May, the Online Marketplace will initially be home to 50 curated brands across the gift, toy, homeware, beauty, and wellbeing categories but will also be open to more brands at a discounted rate. Speaking on behalf of Hyve Group, Julie Driscoll, managing director UK Retail and Fashion said, “With the Online Marketplace we are giving our retail community an additional trading platform. Spring and Autumn Fair are the first omnichannel retail trade events in the UK to do this. As we move forward, our focus is on refuelling retail for 2021 and beyond, supporting our community in recovering from the pandemic and building back stronger than ever.” Hyve Group is partnering with Events United to offer this digital e-commerce platform. Owned by Picaflor, Events United specialises in creating digital extensions to physical events with extensive experience within the retail sphere. On top of its digital development, Hyve Group will also be launching a Curated Meetings programme for 2021. Designed to connect the community at its in-person shows, the Curated Meetings programme will connect pre-qualified buyers, who are actively sourcing, to relevant, high-quality suppliers through pre- scheduled one-to-one meetings. The team will be trialling the concept at Autumn Fair 2021 with a full roll out of the programme expected for Spring Fair 2022. ` POTTERS CROUCH CANDLES APPOINTS NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Potters Crouch has announced the appointment of Matt Elvidge, who has filled the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. Matt graduated from Manchester with a degree in Chemistry and decided to add accountancy to his CV. Following a few positions in Leeds and Manchester he moved into a senior role located in Bedfordshire before being headhunted by Potters Crouch to fill this new role. Matt says, “I’m excited to be joining the Potters Crouch team and to meet both agents and customers as I seek to ensure that the fantastic quality products are matched with outstanding customer care and efficient operations. Come and meet me at Harrogate in July.” www.potterscrouch candles.co.uk BOXMART PARTNERS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS SIMPLY PROSECCO Recyclable packaging specialists BoxMart, based in Shenstone, Staffordshire, has teamed up with local business Simply Prosecco to create a bespoke e-commerce gift box for its beautiful prosecco and etched glass gift sets. Diversifying its business in a post COVID world, Simply Prosecco has historically operated in the wedding and events sector, with a beautiful vintage van doubling as a mobile prosecco bar. However, over the last year this growing business has taken an entrepreneurial approach, introducing gift hampers and gift sets. As an online business posting such delicate items needed top notch packaging to protect contents, while also looking and feeling the part for such a luxury gift. BoxMart has created custom sized postal boxes, with die cut fittings, bespoke print and a satisfying opening experience and product reveal. BoxMart managing director, Joanne Offord said, “The pandemic has presented enormous challenges, but also huge opportunities to businesses able to diversify their product range. We have been delighted to help numerous small and growing businesses seize opportunities, providing off the shelf and custom packaging quickly, to enable them to get their product to market during difficult times.” T: +44 (0)1543 480 163 www.boxmart.co.uk