WIDDOP & CO LAUNCHES NEW PLUSH CUDDLY TOYS AND GIFT RANGE Home and gifting company, Widdop & Co, has announced the launch of its latest product range: Softies, a collection of plush cuddly toys and gifts designed to bring joy to children and adults alike. The new line features charming characters from teddies to turtles, bunnies to brown foxes. Developed by Widdop & Co.’s CEO, Stephen Illingworth, the collection was inspired by the children of the company’s team, including Stephen’s own kids. He said: “This range is close to my heart. The names of these cuddly companions, like Talia and Hudson, were lovingly chosen thanks to our team’s children and my own family. It’s a celebration of the creativity and innocence that kids bring into our lives.” Stephen, alongside his brother and Widdop & Co. Managing Director Dan, have both worked tirelessly to expand the company’s portfolio of gifts to now include plush and soft toys while staying true to the firm’s heritage. “As a family business, we’ve always been about creating products that capture connection and warmth,” said Dan. “The Softies range perfectly embodies that spirit. These toys are not just adorable – they’re designed to be cherished companions for years to come.” According to market research from Statista, revenue in the UK Dolls & Stuffed Toys market is projected to reach £880 million in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 4.09 percent expected from 2025 to 2029. Softies is perfectly positioned to meet this growing demand, emerging as a must-have for retailers across the UK. Each cuddly toy is made from soft-touch, highquality fabrics that are safe for all ages. Featuring a wide variety of timeless character designs and cuddly animals, Softies caters to a broad customer base, from children to adults seeking comfort in plush toys and gifts – a trend gaining momentum in today’s market. The collection also taps into the growing demand for collectible characters, offering a playful and comforting range that resonates with all ages. Each character is presented in a gift box designed to resemble a charming house, complete with white detailing and branded elements that enhance the gift-giving experience. With competitive pricing, excellent quality, and reliable supply, Softies is the ideal partner for gift shops, toy stores, and boutiques aiming to enhance their product offerings. Available to trade customers, this collection is poised to deliver consistent retail success, combining customer appeal with strong business value for retailers nationwide. The Softies collection is now available for trade customers to order from www.widdop.co.uk/shop-by-brand/softies HOUSE OF PHAEDRA OPENS A NEW SHOPPING EXPERIENCE House of Phaedra is a new shopping experiencing in the historic Antelope Walk, Dorchester, Dorset. “Take your senses on a journey around our beautiful store, House of Phaedra. A shop dedicated to beautiful natural home fragrance and stunning lifestyle pieces, carefully curated to work in harmony,” says Phaedra Radestock, Founder. “We wanted to create a space where our beautiful candles play the leading role in a beautiful lifestyle store, where home fragrance is the pivotal element for stunning interiors. Warm cosy scents accentuate beautiful plush blankets and sheepskins, while stunning dried hydrangeas and eucalyptus plants in beautiful glass vases blend in perfect harmony with the subtle aroma of lemongrass and ginger emitting from a carefully placed Oriental Flowers Reed Diffuser. This creates stylish zones of colour, texture and fragrance.” It has always been a dream of Phaedra’s to have a lifestyle store that put home fragrance at the very core of the shop, building layers of style and colour around what arguably is the essence of every well curated room. Not only was finding the perfect store and location key but there also needed to be room for Purbeck Candles production, situated at the back of the store with cleverly placed crittall windows that allow shoppers to view the candles being made. Situated in the heart of Dorchester, Dorset’s historic county town, House of Phaedra is a wonderful addition to the numerous lovely independent stores now to be found in this re invigorated town. House of Phaedra, 7 Antelope Walk, Dorchester DT1 1BE. PERSONALISED MEMENTO COMPANY CELEBRATES 21ST ANNIVERSARY Personalised Memento Company (PMC) is excited to be celebrating its 21st Birthday! Since PMC began in 2004, it has been supplying retailers with a large range of personalised gifts, following trends and using the latest personalisation technology to produce special gifts covering all recipients and occasions! Register for a free trade account today, to see the full range of personalised gifts. E: sales@personalisedmemento.co.uk, www.personalisedmemento.co.uk INDUSTRY NEWS 11
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=