7 EDITOR’S LETTER 46 On the cover St Eval was born in the Cornish countryside. From a clifftop home in North Cornwall, the company works with nature to collect fragrances and turn them into wildly scented candles. Each one is a journey, an experience, a landscape the company loves. www.st-eval.com Innovative and inspiring I always find writing the March/April issue of Gift Focus invigorating. Fresh from exploring the aisles of Spring Fair, I’m inspired by our industry’s endless creativity, innovation, and resilience. This year, what stood out most was the sheer vibrancy of the products – each one crafted with care, foresight, and passion. It’s inspiring to see how our industry continuously evolves, never resting on its laurels but always pushing forward and staying ahead of the curve. Independent retail has always had a heartbeat that mass brands often lack. In the face of ongoing challenges – Brexit, COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, to name a few – this heartbeat has only grown stronger, more resilient, and more united. Spring Fair reaffirmed what we already knew: our industry can weather any storm and emerge even stronger. In this issue, we spotlight a host of brands that have stood the test of time, bringing you a stunning array of giftware. With Father’s Day on the horizon, we’ve curated a selection of must-have products to maximize this key sales opportunity. Our feature on candles and home fragrance explores products perfect for both self-purchase and gifting. We also turn our attention to stationery, British-made goods, and gourmet food and drink gifts. It’s a stellar lineup, complemented by the latest industry news, business insights, and exciting new product launches. We hope you enjoy the issue! Louise Prance Editor Louise DESIGN +44 (0)1376 535 616 artwork@giftfocus.com ACCOUNTS +44 (0)1376 535 616 accounts@giftfocus.com MANAGING DIRECTOR Sarah Ellis +44 (0)1376 535 602 sarah.ellis@giftfocus.com Gift Focus and Attire Accessories are solely owned, published and designed by Ellis Media and Events Ltd. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Gift Focus is published six times a year. ISSN 1758-0897 @giftfocus @giftfocusmag @gift_focus Gift Focus magazine is proud to be associated with and supporters of: ADVERTISING Account Manager Loretta Smith +44(0)1376 538 495 loretta.smith @giftfocus.com EDITORIAL Editor Louise Prance +44 (0)1376 514 000 louise.prance@giftfocus.com 50 Louise Prance, Editor 45
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