Publication - Attire Accessories magazine

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MARCH/APRIL 2014
ISSUE 45
JEWEL ACTION
The latest gems, charms
and sparklers
What a spectacle
The best eyewear on the market
Show previews
• British Craft Trade Fair
• INDX
FRESH FACES
We introduce the design
stars of the future
Totes amaze
The hottest handbag
trends this season
W
IN
P
roducts
w
£500 R orth
courtesy RP
Healthy of The
Back
Compa Bag
ny
PLUS
• EXPERT ADVICE
• INDUSTRY NEWS
• BRAND NEW PRODUCTS
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CONTENTS
Contents
REGULARS
9 Editor’s letter
What to look out for this issue
10 Industry news
Get the low-down on the latest
happenings in accessories retail
14 BTAA news
Paul Yates brings us a round-up of
the association’s current news
16 On with the show
All of the latest trade show news,
dates and developments
19 Competition
Win products worth £500 RRP
courtesy of The Healthy Back
Bag Company
PROFILES
67
98
56 A perfect storm
Sarah Tempest of Tempest Designs tells
all about the company’s new name and
production processes
20 Brand spanking new
The hottest new products to hit the
accessories market
67 Highland fling
Textile designer Taisir Gibreel reveals all
about her enduring love affair with the
Scottish landscape
87 All the answers
Our industry experts answer your
retail queries
78 Best of both worlds
Surrey retailers Vicki Purnell of Purnell
Jewellery and Terry and Irene Chandler
of Powell Home Fashion invite us into
their lifestyle boutique, Purnell & Powell
19
98 Jurassic spark
The creative duo behind Brighton
accessories label Designosaur talk about
their prehistoric inspiration
78
56
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77
49
FEATURES
SHOWS
32 Insurance solutions
Brokers TH March address queries and
concerns about insurance
25 Dab hands
A preview of the annual British Craft
Trade Fair
35 Arm candy
A look at the hottest handbag trends of
the moment
45 Independent spirit
What to expect from this season’s INDX
Accessories and Travel Goods show
49 A cut above
The definitive jewellery trends of 2014
61 Ones to watch
Attire Accessories puts the design stars of
tomorrow in the spotlight
35
71 All aboard
All of the travelling essentials for
weekend trips and long-haul adventures
74 New kid on the block
David Mackley discusses omnichannel retailing and what it means for
independents
77 Hat trick
Three takes on current millinery trends
25
81 In the frame
The latest eyewear styles, from spectacles
to sunglasses
84 Blooming radiant
Celebrate Pantone’s Radiant Orchid with
garden-fresh displays featuring spring
florals and feminine hues
90 Your strongest asset
ACID’s Dids MacDonald talks about IP
and brand protection
81
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Cover image courtesy of Taisir Gibreel
www.taisirgibreel.co.uk
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MARCH/APRIL 2014
MANAGING EDITOR
Georgina Cassels +44 (0)1376 535 611
DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR
Lauren Dowey
CHIEF SUB EDITOR Louise Prance
EDITOR
Laura Sutherland
+44 (0)1376 535 613
[email protected]
SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
Robert Clark +44 (0)1376 514 000
[email protected]
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Claire Rogers +44 (0)1376 535 600
[email protected]
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Scott Brothwell +44 (0)1376 535 616
[email protected]
DEPUTY PRODUCTION MANAGER
Sarah Barnes +44 (0)1376 535 616
[email protected]
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Vicky O’Connor
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Samantha Lock, Rebecca Clarke
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Aimee Smith
WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Stuart Weatherley
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Kay Tilbury, Tammy Watt
+44 (0)1376 514 000
KD Media Publishing Limited
Pantile House, Newlands Drive,
Witham, Essex CM8 2AP
www.attireaccessories.com
Spring is in the air
Despite what the
weather outside is
telling us, spring is
on its way. However,
while customers are
just starting to enjoy
sunglasses, pastel hues,
and floaty layers, the
fashion industry is already looking ahead
to autumn/winter 2014. Following the
overwhelming success and massive visitor
figures of Spring Fair, Pure London and
Moda, as well as the growth of luxury
exhibition Scoop International, there’s a
real sense of optimism in the retail sector.
To support this upbeat attitude, Attire
Accessories is highlighting the very best
of the exhibition circuit with a bumper
selection of product features to ensure that
you’re in the know about the key trends,
hot products and breakthrough labels
of the season ahead. Best-sellers such as
handbags and jewellery are covered, as well
as niche markets like eyewear and travel.
Pride in homegrown design never goes
out of style, and no show reflects this better
than the British Craft Trade Fair, now
in its 38th year. Check out our preview,
Dab hands, on page 25 to find out more
about the event and the varied talents
it showcases. We also take a look at the
forthcoming edition of INDX: Accessories
& Travel Goods, which is set to be it’s
biggest event to date.
As well as our show previews, regular
features and interviews, we take a look
at the latest millinery styles and show
how you can bring a touch of Pantone’s
Colour of the Year, Radiant Orchid to
your shopfloor. We also have details on
how to register for complimentary entry
to Handmade in Britain’s first-ever Spring
Edition show ‒ see page 17 for more
details. This issue’s competition prize of
products worth £500 RRP comes courtesy
of The Healthy Back Bag Company.
0ǸɤɑǸ
Happy reading,
Laura Sutherland
Editor
Eyewear, page 81
ISSN 1758-0919
Attire Accessories is solely owned, published and
designed by KD Media Publishing Limited. 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. Attire Accessories is published six times a year.
Subscription rates for overseas readers are £75 per annum
(incl. p+p), Cheques should
be made out to KD Media
Publishing Limited and sent
to Attire Accessories, Pantile
House, Newlands Drive,
Witham, Essex
CM8 2AP.
Editor’s pick
As fellow female commuters will know,
the perfect handbag is hard to find. With
all of the necessary – and sometimes not
so necessary ‒ cargo we need to have at
hand on a day-to-day basis, you need
a tote that’s stylish, yet won’t buckle
under pressure. Vow London’s sturdy
statement bag ticks all the boxes: it comes
in fail-safe black, has endless capacity,
dependable handles and even a chic lasercut houndstooth pattern.
$77,5(
Industry news
FIND OUT WHAT’S NEW IN
FASHION ACCESSORIES RETAILING
MISS MILLY WINS A SCOOT HEADLINE AWARD
Silver Service
BJA winners showcased
at Jewellery & Watch
Birmingham
The winners of the 2014 British Jewellers’
Association’s Cocktail Rings on the
Catwalk Awards were announced at
Jewellery & Watch Birmingham, with
Silver Service and Rosie Sanders taking
home prizes for their cocktail ring designs.
Silver Service’s winning design, Wings
of Desire, took the top prize in the nonprecious category. The yellow bronze ring
features a wing design that wraps around
the finger with a hand-carved skull set
into the centre.
Emerging designer Rosie Sanders
scooped the award in the precious
category with her Kaleidoscope ring – an
elaborate gold vermeil design that forms
part of her wider Renaissance Rebel
collection, set with a beautiful large
London Blue topaz.
To find out more about the BJA, visit
www.bja.org.uk.
Rosie Sanders
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Miss Milly, wholesale jewellery and fashion accessories
supplier, has won a Scoot Headline Award in the national
campaign to find Britain’s most successful companies. The
company will be presented with a trophy and certificate at a
presentation ceremony at the Millbank Tower, London on 28th
April, 2014.
Sarah Watmore, Managing Director of Miss Milly, is
delighted with the announcement: “Miss Milly is a relatively
new business competing on a national level and servicing
customers all around the UK and overseas. I’m really excited
about this award, which proves that it’s possible for anybody to
build a successful business if they’re dedicated and passionate enough.
“We’re incredibly positive about 2014 with the launch of our brand, Little Miss Milly,
offering jewellery and accessories for girls, along with new collections and packaging.
This award is absolute proof that we’re going in the right direction.”
As a result of this Scoot Headline Award success, Miss Milly has been invited to have
its winning paper published in The National Business Leaders Yearbook, the leading
work of reference on successful business techniques and best practice, so that others can
follow its lead and learn from the company’s achievement.
To find out more about the business, visit www.missmilly.co.uk.
Home, Top Drawer and Craft attract record number of
buyers and exhibitors
Top Drawer, Home and new show
Craft attracted a record number
of buyers and exhibitors. The three
complementary events presented more
than 1,000 British and international
brands and designer-makers to eager
buyers of design-led homeware, gifts,
accessories and craft.
As the first event of the year,
the shows provide an indicator for the outlook for 2014, and early signs are positive;
visitor numbers enjoyed an increase against 2013 and trading was brisk; buyers across the
board commented on the calibre of exhibitors this year and were inspired by the stylish,
contemporary offering at the shows.
This year, Top Drawer, Home and Craft saw a surge in VIP buyers travelling from all over
the world to visit. Eminent retailers including Selfridges, Liberty, Harrods, Fenwicks, John
Lewis, Achica, Amazon, Debenhams, ASOS, Brown Thomas, Fenwick, Laura Ashley, House
of Fraser, Hallmark, Heals, Scribbler and hundreds more booked their tickets to be part of
this year’s show.
Brand new event Craft offered a rare opportunity for retailers to meet and source covetable
one-off pieces from more than 100 leading UK and international artisans and makers,
including collectives of design groups such as Craft Northern Ireland, Emergents Makers
and Handmade Japan. Each group nurtures new and existing craft talent and brought with
them a handful of their most talented makers, who offered their own interpretation of the
hand-made. The show drew a new audience of galleries, museums and collectors to the
London buying event.
The spring/summer shows take place on 14th - 16th September, 2014 at their new home
at London Olympia. Find out more at www.topdrawer.co.uk, www.home-london.net and
www.craft-london.com.
CLASSIC CANES CELEBRATES 25
CONSECUTIVE YEARS AT SPRING FAIR
This year’s Spring
Fair marked the
25th consecutive
appearance of
walking stick
specialist Classic
Canes at the
show. Founder
Partner Diana
Porter has
Charlotte Gillan, Diane Porter and
attended all 25
Laura Gowers toast 25 years
exhibitions and
celebrated this year with champagne and by having her
photograph taken with many long-standing customers.
Diana says: “Our business has grown a lot since we
first attended the Spring Fair with a much smaller range
of walking sticks and a backdrop I ran up on my sewing
machine. Spring Fair has been of great importance to us
during the last quarter of a century in finding suitable
stockists for our products in the UK and around the
world. This year, it was a great pleasure to see so many
old friends and customers at the fair, many of whom
remember us from those early days.”
Condor Group celebrates 75 years in
business at Jewellery & Watch Birmingham
One of the
UK’s bestloved watch
manufacturers,
Condor
Group, which
supplies the
Royal London,
Cannibal
and Time
Co brands,
along with a
Condor Group Directors, Indira and Narshi
wide range
Bhoja with UK Sales and Marketing
of straps and
Manager, David Stokes celebrating with
accessories,
a cake presented by The Jewellery & Watch
celebrated
Birmingham Portfolio Director, Julie Driscoll
75 years in
business at
Jewellery & Watch Birmingham.
Founded in 1939, Condor Group is the UK’s largest
distributor of watchstraps and has seven area managers
covering the entire country and serving more than 2,500
independent retail customers.
The iconic Royal London brand was launched by Condor
in 1998 and now has over 1,000 stockists around the UK,
plus a number of multiple retail accounts.
In 2013 Condor Group added the Haggerty range of
jewellery cleaning products to its portfolio, along with an
extended range of tools.
For more information, visit the website
www.royallondonwatches.co.uk.
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READERS’ POLL
What we’ve learnt from the latest reader
poll at www.attireaccessories.com
We asked: What’s your New Year’s
resolution?
You said:
Visit more trade shows: 25%
Put more effort into social media: 25%
Invest more time in customer service: 25%
All of the above: 25%
Simply Devine celebrates 10 years in the
millinery industry
Joy Devine and
her daughter, Liz
Devine-Wright
set up Simply
Devine in 2004
as a destination
hat store. By 2006
they had expanded
into online
selling, sending
hats, fascinators
and accessories
worldwide.
In 2009,
Pashmina by
Simply Devine was
introduced. After
travelling Nepal
Liz Devine-Wright winning Retail Business Woman
for over a decade
of the Year at the Forward Ladies Awards
and having seen
the huge success of
pashminas sold in store, Liz started to import them and now has a trade
customer base in the South of England and overseas.
Then in 2011, Joy took the decision to retire, with Liz buying her out
in 2012. Continuing on single handed, Liz progressed forward with a
careful buying plan, including the introduction of Mother of the Bride
styles and two websites to match: www.motherofthebrideboutique.co.uk
and www.motherofthegroomboutique.co.uk.
Supporting the Made in Britain campaign, the company buys UKdesigned headwear, and while it has a more expensive price tag than
hats made in China, Simply Devine is a high-end hat shop in Tadcaster,
whose core clients are those attending international race meetings,
including our very own British Royal Ascot and the Dubai World Cup,
for ladies who want a head-turner and something different. Speaking
of Simply Devine’s success in 2013, Liz said: “Winning the Forward
Ladies Retailer of the Year Women in Business Award 2013 has been a
fantastic feather in our cap, and in my opinion speaks volumes about the
Simply Devine business. Following a decade of hard work, networking
and sheer determination, we’re confident it has elevated Simply Devine
as one of the very best hat shops in the UK. I just can’t believe it has
been 10 whole years since York Press came to take photos on our first
day of opening!”
To find out more about the boutique, visit the website
www.simplydevine.co.uk.
NEWS & EVENTS
RETAIL BUYERS REAP
THE BENEFITS AT
CONNECTIONS EVENT
British watch and jewellery brand STORM set to
celebrate 25 years with iconic anniversary collection
STORM has unveiled its spring/summer 2014 collection, which features a variety of
intricately designed and beautifully crafted men’s and women’s styles. This range is set to
be the label’s most iconic and successful range to date, as STORM is celebrating its 25th
anniversary and its success with the introduction of two special edition styles.
The new spring/summer 2014 collection features a variety of classic styles, as well as
striking details in the form of a one-of-a-kind octagonal face on the Elorna and striking
ladder strap detailing on the Evisa. In the men’s collection, interlocking cog detailing features
on the limited edition Tri-Mez, while the Trigma, which forms part of the STORM Black
collection, is a more timeless piece – the perfect accessory for the sartorial gent.
The forthcoming season also sees the introduction of a new deep blue detailing into the
women’s range in the form of the Multizan and Multi Slim, with both styles featuring multifunction detailing, showing the day, date and month. Floating Swarovski crystals remain a
key feature for STORM at the moment, with the gems being included in both the women’s
Sparkelli and Sparkelli Leather styles, both in the main watch faces and in the outer circles,
adding a touch of glamour to these minimalist styles.
For its 25th anniversary, STORM has introduced two special edition timepieces for men
and women. The men’s Hydroxis features a raised watch face, as well as a futuristic hour and
second features. Meanwhile, the women’s style, Centina has remained true to the brand’s
classic roots with a signature tiled strap in polished steel with a simple watch face design,
which is complemented by STORM’s signature rotating ring second hand.
Both the spring/summer 2014 collection and special edition anniversary styles stay true to
STORM’s ability to push the boundaries in terms of design and detailing.
To find out more, visit www.stormwatches.com.
Birmingham Assay Office offers new combined crystal glass test
The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office has announced an improved crystal glass
test, developed specifically for those who wish to ensure their products meet the criteria
required for it to be described as crystal glass, as defined by an EU Directive of 1969.
This may be necessary for compliance with straight-forward Trades Description
requirements, or it may be due to new legislation relating to lead in certain articles. The
European REACH (Restriction, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
Regulation, enforceable from October 2013, restricts the levels of lead content in all types
of jewellery and hair accessories, but crystal glass is exempt. In order to be classified as one
of the categories of crystal glass, the material must comply with three different criteria. It
must contain oxides of lead, barium, zinc or potash combined or alone of at least 10 per cent,
have a refractive index of above 1.52 and a density above 2.45 grams per cubic centimetre.
The Birmingham Assay Office has the specialist resources needed to offer this test, having
the expertise and equipment to carry out both chemical and gemmological testing. Samples
are subjected to assessment by both The Laboratory, which checks the level of oxides, and
the AnchorCert Gemmological Laboratory, which assesses the relative density and refractive
index and the final outcome is reported as “crystal – exempt” or “glass” which may then be
either “compliant” or “non-compliant”, depending upon the amount of lead contained.
For more information on this test, contact the Birmingham Assay Office on +44 (0)871
871 6020 or email [email protected].
The hugely beneficial Connections
buying event organised by the
Shop and Display Equipment
Association (SDEA) was once again
a great success. Held at a prestigious
central London venue last month,
Connections presented members
with a rewarding start to their New
Year with a big sales push. The fastpaced, one-day networking bonanza,
sponsored by NIKI the Bulgarian
shop-fitting metalwork specialists,
attracted some of the UK’s leading
retail groups, including New Look
and Paul Smith, as well as a number of
leading retail design agencies including
Retail Design Solutions, Resolution
Interiors and 4G Design.
This highly acclaimed event, known
to retail display suppliers as Meet
the Buyer, was re-launched this year
as Connections ‒ linking retail display
buyers and suppliers to raise awareness
within the retail industry and appeal
directly to key retail display buyers.
Speaking at the end of the event, the
Head of Store Development at New
Look said: “I thoroughly enjoyed today.
I’ve met some good contacts for future
use.” Another satisfied delegate from
Retail Design Solutions reported: “It
was great to meet companies who are
offering innovative and cost-effective
services and materials. I’m confident
that we’ll be using these new contacts
with the creation, design and delivery
of new projects and clients that I’m
working with throughout the coming
months and year.”
Overall feedback from members was
also positive. Simone Breedon from
Display Lighting said: “It was a great
value day with lots of good contacts,”
while Martin Tellwright from Advance
Display summed up the day with one
word: “Brilliant!” Mark Ellis, Sales and
Marketing Director at Metal Craft
Industries UK concluded: “We’ve been
attending Meet the Buyer every year
since its inception and found that this
year’s event had a great balance of
companies between the Design Agency
and Retailer. Another great not-to-bemissed event by the SDEA!”
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BTAA News
Chief Executive, Paul Yates brings us all the latest
developments from the British Travelgoods & Accessories
Association members
Paul Yates,
Chief Executive, BTAA
BULAGGI®
welcomes a
new owner
On 22nd January, 2014,
entrepreneur Dick
Tijssen became the
new owner of bag label BULAGGI® and
the associated business ARWA BV. Tijssen
has made his mark in various national and
international wholesale businesses and now,
through his acquisition of BULAGGI®, he
embarks on the world of fashion.
ARWA BV was founded 45 years ago
by Trix and Wim Walraven. They soon
developed the handbag brand BULAGGI®,
which secured a strong position in the
European fashion world over the years. In
2007, Walraven entrusted his son Arjan
with running the business.
Arjan is clear about the reason for selling
ARWA/BULAGGI®: “For some time,
I’ve felt that ARWA is not quite the right
place for me. Both the co-workers and
the BULAGGI® label deserve an owner
who can commit himself to the business
fully. I’m happy and grateful that in Dick,
I’ve found a highly experienced and
enthusiastic entrepreneur who’s capable of
such a commitment. I’m convinced that
BULAGGI® only stands to gain from
this development.”
Wim Walraven backs the decision his
son has made. “I’m totally confident that
both the team and the brand will continue
well through these changes. I am proud of
what Arjan has achieved in the past years.”
The first collection that Tijssen will be
presenting is Spring Summer Flash! 2014,
featuring a host of metallics, studs and
prints. This collection also marks the return
of the popular shopper, frame bag, hobo,
wicker basket and caravan bag.
Mafana unveils new range
Mafana has revealed its fresh designs for
spring/summer 2014, including Rufus, a
raffia basket with an adorable dog motif
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and the new Art Deco
collection. As well as
baskets, the label has
new handbags and
clutches. To view the
full collection, visit the
website www.mafana.
com. Contact the sales
team on +44 (0)845 224 7924 or via email
at [email protected].
The BTAA welcomes new member,
Benchmark Brands
Benchmark Brands designs and supplies
creative licensed bags, luggage and travelrelated gifts across three very distinctive
brands: LIFE, RSPCA and Bamforth.
Each of these brands have very
extensive image banks that can be used
across a number of high quality products.
Benchmark can even create an original
range just for your store, with an order as
low as five pieces of each item.
For further information, visit the
website www.benchmarkbrands.co.uk. If
you have enquiries, call +44 (0)1525 863
940 or email [email protected]
Leather Wise announces conference
BTAA member, Leather Wise, is
organising a conference called Leather…
from Beast to Beauty, in association with
the University of Northampton and World
Trades Publishing (World Leather, World
Footwear and WSA magazines) which will
take place on 4th June, 2014 at Chelsea Old
Town Hall, London. This will be the fifth conference of this
kind, with this year’s theme being fraud in
the leather supply chain and how to combat
it. As everyone is aware, counterfeiting
in leather goods is rife, which can lead to
loss of reputation and monetary damage
for a brand. The conference is aimed at
everyone in the leather supply chain, from
manufacturer to product design, as well as
retail. It’ll cover many aspects of fraudulent
activities, some of which are not often
considered, such as terrorism and theft.
Leather Wise will also select 20 of the
top design students using leather in their
collections to attend and showcase some of
their collections to potential customers and
employers at the conference free of charge.
If you’d like further information about
this important event, visit the website
www.leatherbiz.com. If you have enquiries,
call +44 (0)151 928 9288 or email
[email protected].
BUILT previews its
new collection for
spring/summer 2014
Insulating for up to
four hours, these stylish
bags are the ideal
accessory to carry hot
or cold food to work
in style. This season,
vibrant prints and an
’80s colour palette have
been re-interpreted for
a modern day girl. The
bags’ retail pricing starts
at £22.50. For more
information, visit the website
www.formahouse.co.uk.
Worldline Luggage presents awardwinning Freefold travel accessories
Worldline Luggage’s Freefold product is a
carbon-friendly foam garment carrier for
smart casual or suits. It can be stowed in
the consumer’s choice of luggage whether
it be a 30ltr backpack or carry-on luggage,
while keeping clothing in mint condition.
Complete with dry bag, it retails for £39.99.
The company is keen to discuss routes to
export markets with distributors and agents,
as well as retailers at home and abroad. To
view the collection, visit the website www.
free-fold.com. For more details, call +44
(0)7725 027 837 or email at immaculate.
[email protected]. $
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On with the show
CHECK OUT ALL THE IMPORTANT NEWS AND
DATES FOR YOUR BUSINESS DIARY...
Giving & Living celebrated
the big 50 in style
Giving & Living celebrated its 50th
anniversary in January. Thanks to the
glorious 2013 summer and all the special
golden features at the show, there was
a much more positive atmosphere than
in recent years, with visitors looking
forward to another sunny season of
strong sales in the South West.
“A great show this year. The figures are in and we are 34 per cent up on
last year; nearly equalling our best year ever at the show,” said Phil Coatham
from Pocket Money Plus.
Many companies reported record-breaking sales, and lots of this year’s
stand holders have already re-booked. The many visitors to the show enjoyed
the warm and friendly atmosphere, often returning several times over the
four days.
“Giving & Living is the first trade show of the year that I attend and I
usually do 90 per cent of my business at the show. It’s the first chance to see
new products laid out in a way that’s easy to deal with the exhibitors, without
being pressured by too many people crowded in too small a space,” said
Laura Huxtable-White from Avon Beach.
The next Giving and Living show takes place from 11th - 14th January,
2015. Keep up to date with the show by visiting www.givingliving.co.uk or
why not follow the event on Twitter at @giving_living?
HARROGATE IS CALLING
Home & Gift Harrogate is once again on the horizon.
Despite the soaring temperatures last year, a record 61
per cent of exhibitors rebooked at the show for the this
year’s event.
This buying event is the favourite of many retailers, as
Harrogate is such a pleasant place to do business, network
and eat out in the evenings.
Head along to the show for design-led and everyday
gifts, homewares, jewellery and fashion accessories and
greetings cards and stationery.
To register for a visitor badge, log onto the website
www.homeandgift.co.uk.
OPTIMISM HIGH AT THIS YEAR’S SPRING FAIR
This year’s Spring Fair International welcomed more than 66,500 retail buyers, including more than
5,250 from overseas – a two per cent increase on last year’s show.
As the largest retail trade event in the country, Spring Fair serves as a crucial barometer for the
economic health of the sector. What has been widely billed as the most successful show in years
revealed a clear upswing in the home and gift trade.
The positive atmosphere on site at the show is supported by major industry research carried out by
the Local Data Company on behalf of the show at the end of 2013 that shows a dramatic uplift in
retail optimism.
Along with tens of thousands of independent retailers, senior buyers from the biggest multiples, supermarkets and department stores –
including Fenwicks, Debenhams, Bentalls, John Lewis, Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Tesco – turned out in force.
A new development for i2i Events Group that positively impacted Spring Fair is a strengthened partnership agreement with UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI), designed to inspire and support UK-based SMEs in their efforts to succeed in overseas markets. UKTI helped Spring
Fair achieve a two per cent increase in overseas visitors attending the show compared with the 2013 event.
The partnership boosted international representation at Spring Fair, helping to provide British suppliers with an entry point to international
markets and featuring prominent Best of British showcases and Exporter trails throughout the exhibition. Five UKTI Villages were located
around The NEC with a total of 50 hand-chosen exhibitors, all entrepreneurial British companies with a particular strength in export business
that are new to the show.
The next edition of Spring Fair International will take place from 1st - 5th February at the NEC, Birmingham. The Volume halls open one
day early on 31st January. For more information visit www.springfair.com.
$77,5(
NEWS & EVENTS
WHO’S NEXT’S MENTOR PANEL WHITTLES
DOWN THE FUTURE OF FASHION
SHORTLIST AT JANUARY SHOW
Parisian fashion trade show Who’s Next and world-leading online
designer platform Not Just A Label (NJAL), alongside their
partners Koka Consulting, Fidancia, and Lambert & Associates,
have completed the first round of The Future of Fashion initiative.
The 20 selected designers ‒ 10 accessory designers and 10
ready-to-wear designers ‒ entered a two-year coaching program.
At the end of the process, the final two left standing will get a
business plan worth €20,000 to raise funds, and six extra months
of coaching with the program partners, as well as being offered
four seasons in a row at Who’s Next trade show.The 20 selected
designers and their autumn/winter 2014-15 collections exhibited
at the Who’s Next trade show from 25th - 28th January at Premiere
Classe. The final 10 accessories contenders were: Charkviani, De
Siena Shoes, Dinu Bodiciu, Gretchen, Lamat, Michal Taharlev,
Michelle Dianne L.Dulce, Pasionae, Salome Charly and Vaska.
After January’s event, this number was cut to five, with Lamat,
Vaska, Pasionae, Salome Charly and Michal Taharlev progressing
through to July’s phase.
The jury overseeing the competition are all experts in their
fields. The panel includes: Stefan Siegel, the founder and Not
Just A Label CEO; Salman Khokar from Koka Consulting, a
group in charge of developing fashion concepts; Olivier Arrighi
from Fidancia, an international payment and insurance company
specialising in fashion business; Pauline Savin and Camille de
Pontcharra from Lambert & Associates, a fashion consultation and
purchasing company which specialises in brand development and
Sylvie Pourrat and Sophie Guyot, the Managers of the Accessories
and Ready-to-wear sectors at Who’s Next.
For more details on the show, exhibitors’ listing and registration,
visit the website www.whosnext.com.
Handmade in Britain launches first-ever Spring Edition
This year, craft trade and consumer show organiser Handmade in Britain is launching the first Spring Edition to
complement the winter showcase, Handmade in Britain: The Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair, which is now in its
eighth year.
Opening the doors of the beautiful Chelsea Old Town Hall from 9th - 11th May, 2014, the new event will showcase
the best of contemporary fine crafts in all disciplines across fashion and interiors. With innovative design alongside
exceptional craftsmanship, visitors can expect a dazzling variety of form, function and style from 100 highly skilled
designer-makers.
A luxury shopping and sourcing experience on the famous King’s Road, the Spring Edition is a one-off opportunity
Emma Farquharson
to browse, buy and commission directly from the designers while uncovering new trends, admire fresh collections and
unearth fresh inspiration for your store.
The pieces on display will cover a spectrum of disciplines and media, from ceramics and glass to textile and fine jewellery. Fashion makers
confirmed as exhibitors include Emma Farquharson, Anna Byers and Elaine Cox.
In partnership with Handmade in Britain, Attire Accessories is offering readers complimentary tickets, available from 1st March until 4th May,
2014. For free registration, go to www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk/chelsea-14/may/tickets and enter the code, ATTIREHMIB14.
Diary dates
British Craft Trade Fair
6th - 8th April, 2014
Harrogate
www.bctf.co.uk
Handmade in Britain
9th - 11th May, 2014
Chelsea Old Town Hall
www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk
Jewellery & Watch London
18th - 19th June, 2014
Saatchi Gallery, London
www.jewelleryandwatchlondon.com
INDX Accessories & Travel Goods
8th - 10th April, 2014
Cranmore Park, Solihull
www.indxshow.co.uk
Pulse
11th - 13th May, 2014
Earls Court, London
www.pulse-london.com
The Essential Collection
6th – 8th July, 2014
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
www.tec2014.com
$77,5(
COMPETITION
WIN!
Products worth £500 RRP
courtesy of The Healthy Back
Bag Company
The Healthy Back Bag Company is
offering a selection of its striking Pastel
Patent Healthy Back Bag collection up to
the value of £500 RRP. Available in three
mouth-watering colours ‒ Jade, Orange and
d
Rose ‒ these bags are hard-wearing, easy
to clean, look great, and most importantly,
good for your back!
Perhaps the world’s most comfortable
bag, the Healthy Back Bag originated in
the USA as the result of a collaboration
between a bag designer, doctor and a
chiropractor. Patented in 1995, it crossed
the Atlantic to Europe in 2004, where
the brand has since gone from strength
to strength. The bags are now sold in 26
countries worldwide.
Healthy Back Bags were created for both
men and women to combat the problems
that can be caused by a one strap bag, be
kind to the spine, and still look fabulous.
These chic pieces are designed to distribute
weight asymmetrically, meaning they are
suitable for people of all shapes and sizes;
there really is a Healthy Back Bag to suit
everyone and every body.
Available in hundreds of different
colours and fabrics, the bags are an original
patented teardrop shape, specifically
designed to contour to the spine rather
than pull away from the body. This
distributes the weight across your back,
rather than pulling down from one point
on your shoulder. Packed with intelligent
pockets that help organise your belongings
and spread weight around the bag sensibly,
the accessories can be worn in four different
ways; on either the shoulder or either way
across the body.
The Healthy Back Company launches
two seasonal collections each year: the latest
spring/summer 2014 collection features
a trend-led mix of pastel hues, vibrant
carnival colours and street-cool urban
tones combined with hi-tech fabrics and
cutting edge design. Meanwhile, the new
Reversible Healthy Back Bags introduce a
modern and versatile twist to the collection.
Feats of design, these pieces have the ability
to turn completely inside-out: one side
featuring colour-blocked complementary
colourways, while the reverse surface is a
single block colour with contrast trim.
The Active range adds affordability and
fun to the brand, while The Great Outdoors
line sees the launch of brand new tabletcompatible messenger bags. Featuring a
secure padded pocket for tablets and iPads
and made from a hard-wearing, weatherresistant, hi-tech fabric, the designs are
ideal for outdoor activities such as walking,
hiking and cycling.
The Healthy Back Bag Company’s
products are available in more than 26
countries worldwide, and are stocked in
more than 200 retail outlets in the UK.
For further information on the various
ranges, call +44 (0)20 7812 9800 or visit the
website www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk. $
For your chance to win, answer the
following question:
In which year was the Healthy Back
Bag patented?
a. 1994
b. 1995
c. 1996
Visit www.attireaccessories.com and fill
in the online competition form to enter
the draw. Deadline for entries is 5th
May, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.
$77,5(
Brand Spanking New
OUR EXCLUSIVE ROUND-UP OF THE
NEWEST PRODUCTS AROUND
Lamb 1887
Cap Ferrat clutch
+44 (0)1924 836 941
www.lamb1887.com
£110 RRP
Anatomic&Co
Itapema brogues
+44 (0)20 3115 0002
www.anatomicshoes.com
£134.99 RRP
Zatchels
Quilted clutch
+44 (0)845 521 2723
www.zatchels.com
£90 RRP
RusiDesigns
Star clutch
+66 838 500 444
www.rusidesigns.com
£180 RRP
$77,5(
O.W.L Watches
Cambridge animal print watch
+44 (0)1212 706 678
www.owlwatches.com
£65 RRP
The Rogue + The Wolf
Forget necklace
+44 (0)7402 895 154
www.therogueandthewolf.com
£28 RRP
Oilily
Leather iPad cover
+31 (0)72 576 07 40
www.colorful-licenses.com
£84.95 RRP
Dents
Soft leather bow gloves
+44 (0)1985 212 291
www.dents.co.uk
£59 RRP
KENSINGTON, GDS and SHOWROOM
Trollbeads
Hanging Gardens collection
+00 45 33 936093
www.trollbeads.com
£23+ RRP
Navigate
Beau & Elliot insulated baby bottle bag
+44 (0)1279 653 249
www.navigate.ltd.uk
£19.99 RRP
O.W.L Watches
Hampton silver watch
+44 (0)1212 706 678
www.owlwatches.com
£85 RRP
The Balagan Group
Kaolin spring collection
+44 (0)845 260 0925
www.balagan.co.uk
£12 RRP
Gaby
Statement chainmail necklace
+44 (0)1985 212 291
www.gabysfashion.com
£27 RRP
Classic Canes
Spring ladies beechwood
cane collection
+44 (0)1460 75686
www.classiccanes.co.uk
Just under £20 RRP
Rosa Red
Ness necklace
+44 (0)1415 727 297
www.rosared.co.uk
£30 RRP
$77,5(
Kutuu
You’re the Bee’s Knees collection
+44 (0)1244 346 490
www.kutuu.co.uk
£6 - £10 RRP
NEW PRODUCTS
Anatomic&Co
Vera Cruz boots
+44 (0)20 3115 0002
www.anatomicshoes.com
£124.99 RRP
Designosaur
Chameleon necklace
+44 (0)7939 447 479
www.designosauryeah.blogspot.co.uk
£34.54 RRP
Hazel Atkinson
Bangle
+44 (0)115 941 1110
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.com
£43 RRP
Cléo Ferin Mercury
Blue Jaguar scarf
+44 (0)7921 811 571
www.cleoferinmercury.co.uk
£115 RRP
Lamb 1887
Mini Joanna tote
+44 (0)1924 836 941
www.lamb1887.com
£185 RRP
PellMell
Safari flap bag
+44 (0)1436 677 442
www.pellmell.co.uk
£69.90 RRP
Multiply Design
Circle of Love collection
+44 (0)1629 815 413
www.multiplygifts.com
£3+ RRP
The Rogue + The Wolf
Sleepwalk ring
+44 (0)7402 895 154
www.therogueandthewolf.com
£56 RRP
$77,5(
BRITISH CRAFT TRADE FAIR
Facets of Avalon, www.rachelreilly.com
DAB HANDS
The British Craft Trade Fair returns with a fresh selection
of the UK’s finest designer-makers
$77,5( ·
Hands on
This year’s British Craft Trade Fair is
set to be another diverse showcase
of the country’s finest hand-made
designs and collections
British production is stronger than ever,
as more consumers opt for home grown
products. If you’re looking to stock Britishmade gifts, then the British Craft Trade
Fair (BCTF) is the ideal sourcing event,
with hundreds of makers offering a diverse
range of items.
The organisers of BCTF have reported
another sell-out exhibition. Over the last
five years the trade fair has seen some
exciting changes, and the originality of
work never fails to amaze buyers, many of
whom are regular visitors. Glass, ceramics,
sculpture, textiles (both fashion and home),
greetings cards and jewellery all have their
place at BCTF, produced by some of the
most creative artisan businesses in the UK.
BCTF is one-of-a-kind as it’s the only
trade fair that selects exclusively British
hand-made products, and this criteria is
met by all of the exhibitors. More than 500
designers will present their crafts, providing
a one-stop shop for independent retailers
and buyers looking for individual products
to fill their shelves.
Each year the fair hosts the Newcomers
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In brief
Show: British Craft Trade Fair
Venue: Great Yorkshire Showground
Dates: 6th - 8th April, 2014
Website: www.bctf.co.uk
Gallery comprising 72 new makers that
are introduced to the trade. Only designermaker who’ve recently graduated from
university or college, and/or have been
in business for less than three years, are
eligible for a stand in this division of
the exhibition.
Margaret Bunn, Principle Organiser of
BCTF, says: “Over the past five years I’ve
watched with interest the development
of the home and gift sector at BCTF and
how the professionalism of our exhibitors
has raised the standard of products
being showcased. The talent at BCTF is
incredible and any retailer that wants to
offer something different to their customers
should definitely pay the fair a visit. I’m
sure they won’t be disappointed!”
Attire Accessories and sister publication
Gift Focus will once again be sponsoring
the Best Fashion Accessory Product Award
and Best Gift Award at The BCTF Awards,
which take place on Monday 7th April.
There’s free parking right outside the
venue, and for those using public transport
there’s a free shuttle service between
the venue, Leeds Bradford Airport and
Harrogate train station.
To register as a buyer and get your free
invitation, visit www.bctf.co.uk. $
BRITISH CRAFT TRADE FAIR
BertyB
211
www.bertyb.co.uk
A pattern maker
with a mid-century
aesthetic, BertyB
is a designer of
bold, original
printed textiles.
She’s particularly influenced by the post-World War Two textile
movement and Scandinavian design. BertyB’s committed to
marrying the best qualities of hand screen and digital print
media, as well as hand drawing. The designer works on the hand
screen-printed fabrics at her studio in the heart of the Scottish
countryside taking inspiration from her beautiful surroundings.
Her new collection is floral based, but still retains her signature
modern, vintage style. BertyB has lovingly designed a range
of accessories and homeware that mix and match contrasting
patterns, creating a fusion of classic and contemporary design.
Hazel Atkinson Jewellery
111
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
Specialising in hand-printed anodized aluminium jewellery
design, Hazel Atkinson has been an established independent
artist for over 25 years.
Her original, handcrafted products are 100
per cent British made.
Inspired by the form
and colour of nature’s
perfect palate, she’s
developed a technique
which combines intricate
forms of design with
the stringent laws of
chemistry to produce
a range of brightly
coloured, light-weight
and very durable
jewellery. She supplies
her jewellery to hundreds
of galleries nationally
and internationally.
Coco Barclay
194
www.cocobarclay.com
Coco Barclay is an accessories label with an eye for detail. The
company was founded by an American milliner, who came to
London, fell in love and stayed. Coco’s experience can be seen in
the bags, which feature whimsical touches, sculpted flourishes and
retro embellishments. The love of the capital city is also revealed
through details such as cloisonné thimbles and vintage Savile Row
ties. The brand’s fast becoming known for its iconic and original
pieces, such as the Glovie frame bag, which wittily incorporates
a pair of leather gloves into the tote’ s design, making lost gloves
a thing of the past. Made with integrity, the designs have limited
edition vintage cotton printed linings, while the leather is ethically
sourced from Italy. Each bag frame is made from the highest
quality materials in London.
Japanese Papercraft
208
www.japanesepapercraft.com
Each Japanese
Papercraft piece
is completely
hand-made by
Naomi Fleury
in Co Donegal,
Ireland, using
origami methods
and traditional
hand-made,
hand-printed
Japanese paper
and gemstones.
Much of her
work takes hours ‒ sometimes even days ‒ to complete as she
measures, cuts and assembles all her complicated folds to produce
stunning designs.
$77,5( ·
Leigh Shepherd Designs
206
www.leighshepherddesigns.com
Kate Hamilton-Hunter
327
www.katehhstudio.co.uk
Inspired by a passion for upcycling and desire to make affordable,
quirky pieces, Leigh Shepherd creates a range of resin jewellery.
Earrings are hand-made from original sixpence coins and
pendants from Scrabble tiles ‒ all presented in the very popular
Teeny Tiny Tins. The designer’s brooches are made from draughts
and domino pieces, while silk-screened papers and resins create
jewel-like hues in the Japanese collection.
Most of Kate Hamilton-Hunter’s jewellery is made from beautiful
old biscuit tins that the designer has rescued from obscurity to
extend their lifespan in new and wonderful ways. The studio team
are proactive recyclers, with an eco-policy that filters through the
entire production processes. Each piece is supplied in a pretty gift
box ‒ made from recycled board, naturally.
Sue Christian Handweaver
149
www.suechristianhandweaver.co.uk
Pattern Passion
115
www.patternpassion.co.uk
Pattern Passion specialises in luxury scarves and womenswear. The
collection comprises original and contemporary styles by Preeti
Gupta. A graduate of Leeds College of Art and Design, Preeti
channels her artistic talent to replicate the beauty and vibrancy of
the natural world, using fine silks.
Original designs are created by hand drawing or painting. Bright
paisleys, exotic flowers and abstract leaf forms come alive on
the fabric in an array of shades, resulting in beautifully finished
garments and accessories.
$77,5(
Sue Christian designs
and hand-weaves
scarves and wraps in
silk, wool and linen
using two looms, both
traditional in style and
completely hand and
foot operated. Using
many traditional weave
designs she gives them
a contemporary twist
with her choice of
yarns and colours. She
dyes many of the yarns
herself, mixing colours
and injecting them
into hanks of yarn.
HAZEL ATKINSON JEWELLERY
Next showing at
BCTF stand 111
www.hazelatkinsonjewellery.co.uk
[email protected]
tel 0115 9411110
Handmade in the UK
BRITISH CRAFT TRADE FAIR
Zincwhite
169
www.zincwhite.co.uk
Zincwhite is an
upcycling project based
in Huddersfield which
designs and handcrafts
jewellery, fashion
accessories and household items from artist’s waste materials.
One of the initiative’s most successful ranges uses factory-rejected
Derwent colouring pencils to create fun, colourful jewellery
and gifts. Other accessories are crafted from salvaged vintage
typewriter components, bags are reconstructed from shirts and
coffee sacks, while necklaces are created from artists’ paintbrushes.
With a passion for the environment, Zincwhite aims to change
the way society thinks about waste and fashion with their
affordable collections.
Amy Keeper Jewellery
176
www.amykeeperjewellery.co.uk
Amy’s Spyglass range is
inspired by a fascination
with the Victorian scientific
instruments seen in the
Enlightenment Room at
the British Museum and a
spyglass from a children’s
story. The pieces are all
sterling silver, which has been
18ct gold and black rhodium
plated and set with semiprecious stones. Some even
have elements of movement
to spark the imagination.
In her Vintage Postcard
collection, the designer
utilises photographed characters from ’20s postcards to create
jewellery with a nostalgic narrative. Designed to try to reflect the
romantic sentiment with which the postcards were originally sent,
the jewellery’s design often incorporates the message itself.
Facets of Avalon
156
www.rachelreilly.com
Having originally trained as a jeweller, Rachel Reilly has been
wire-knitting for the past 20 years. This foundation in jewellery
design has helped her to learn how to sculpt a 2D mesh into
a 3D wearable sculpture, which echoes the curves of the
human body. She loves experimenting with different colour
combinations, moving from one colour to another within a piece,
shading from dark to light, mixing matte with gloss. Having
recently introduced origami techniques into her work, Rachel’s
discovering a more rigid design structure than the spiralling
organic forms she usually favours.
$77,5(
INSURANCE
solutions
Attire Accessories readers put their insurance queries, concerns and
questions to leading brokers T.H. March
Q
What’s meant by
the Minimum
Security condition
within my
Neil McFarlane,
insurance policy?
Managing Director
Most, if not all,
of T.H. March
insurers that
& Co Limited
provide cover for
business premises impose a minimum level
of security within their policy wordings.
The condition will require certain types of
lock to be fitted to the final entry/exit doors
and windows, and in certain cases, a specific
type of alarm with a number of features
among other security requirements. A copy
of the particular insurer’s ‘minimum security’
standard can be requested when a quotation
is provided. It’s very important you comply
with the condition. If you don’t, any claim
you do make may not be met.
A
Q
A
Will it affect my insurance cover if I trust a
staff member with keys to my premises?
Potentially any such changes can affect
your cover, so always inform your insurance
company. Common sense dictates that
you would only ever give keys to a trusted
member of staff. However, anyone (including
you) can lose keys. If that does ever happen
it’s important that you have a plan of action
in place; don’t simply rely on a coded key
return service. If you do lose the keys to
your premises, even if you have spare sets of
keys, change the locks or get new cylinders
or levers immediately! Criminals may not
use stolen keys straight away and may even
return them to you having made a copy.
Most insurance policies will have cover for
loss of keys, subject to any policy excess.
Q
A
What does the indemnity period mentioned
on my business interruption insurance
policy mean?
The indemnity period on your business
interruption insurance refers to the period
during which your turnover is affected
as a result of insured damage. It’s very
$77,5(
important that your indemnity period isn’t
underestimated. This is because finding
alternative premises, or demolition,
planning and rebuilding as a result of any
major damage, may take much longer than
expected. Even when you’re back in business
and trading, it may take longer to recover
your turnover than you think, so make sure
you are fully protected and your indemnity
period provides you with enough breathing
space to get back on track.
Q
A
When dispatching goods, what should I be
aware of, and what should be included in my
insurance policy?
The extent of insurance can include all
shipments of goods within the UK whether
by your own or hired vehicles, haulage
contractors, post and delivery services. It’s
important to be aware that many carriers
restrict their liability for loss or damage to
the goods they carry. This could potentially
leave you seriously out of pocket in the event
of a claim. Although, arranging your own
insurance protection can solve this problem.
Overseas shipments (imports and exports)
can also be insured from place of origin to
destination. Freight forwarders usually offer
insurance, and monetary limits may apply
in all or part depending on methods of
transport – often there are more than one,
i.e. road, air and sea.
Q
A
What’s meant by the term Target Stock?
Quite simply, any stock that’s attractive to
a thief. To insure that you have adequate
insurance cover in place it’s essential that
you declare any target stock you may hold.
Target stock can include, but is not limited
to, jewellery, watches, precious metals,
compact discs, and electrical goods including
computers, furs, clothing, cigarettes and
alcohol. Not all insurers have the same
stock type as target, so if in any doubt at all
be certain to ask your insurer or broker. If
you don’t disclose your target stock to your
insurer and you then need to make a claim,
it may not be met. $
Further information:
T.H. March is a chartered firm of insurance
brokers. Established in 1887, the company
has offices in London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Glasgow and Sevenoaks, as well
as its National Administration Centre in
Yelverton near Plymouth.
To find out more call +44 (0)1822 855
555, email [email protected], or visit
the website www.thmarch.co.uk.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01985 212291
or visit our London showroom by appointment
Tel: 0207 491 9231
See the
new A/W
ranges from
Bewitched at
INDX
1
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BEWITCHED
2UGHUIURPXVDWZZZID\HXNFRXNRUFDOOXV
RQWRUHTXHVWDFDWDORJXH
T:- 01488 649520 E:- [email protected]
www.bewitched-accessories.co.uk
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+DQGEDJVa-HZHOOHU\a$FFHVVRULHV
Spring/Summer ‘14 Collections
T: 01449 775566 www.capiz.co.uk E: [email protected]
ACCESSORIES
HANDBAG TRENDS
Arm
candy
We take a look at the
investment bags that
will carry fashionconscious consumers
safely through the
next few seasons
Harriet Sanders, www.harrietsanders.co.uk
$77,5( ·
2
1
3
PARIS MATCH
Go ultra-feminine with continental chic monochrome
palettes, dainty bows, dreamy nudes and timeless quilting
4
6
5
7
8
1. Gabriella: +44 (0)1985 212 291 or www.gabysfashion.com; 2. Larah England: +44 (0)7801 822 127 or www.larahengland.com;
3&8 Juno: +44 (0)1484 475 800 or www.junoaccessories.co.uk; 4. Harriet Sanders: +44 (0)20 3092 7409 or
www.harrietsanders.co.uk; 5. RusiDesigns: +66 838 500 444 or www.rusidesigns.com; 6. Henley: +44 (0)1778 343 000 or
www.timesourceltd.com; 7. Leko London: +44 (0)20 8813 8545 or www.leko.co.uk
$77,5(
British Handmade leather handbags
www.harrietsanders.co.uk
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7HO)D[
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Tel: 01563 541709 Fax: 01563 537819 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rowallan.com
Address: Unit 2 Western Road Industrial Estate, Crathie Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1LU
HANDBAG TRENDS
3
2
1
PRINTS CHARMING
Embrace patterns, whether it’s ever-popular checks and leopard
spots or of-the-moment camouflage and tribal shapes
4
6
5
7
8
1. The Healthy Back Bag Co.: +44 (0)20 7812 9800 or www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk; 2. Leko London: +44 (0)20 8813 8545
or www.leko.co.uk; 3. Shona Easton Design Studio: +44 (0)1483 272 309 or www.eastondesignstudio.com; 4. PellMell:
+44 (0)1436 677 442 or www.pellmell.co.uk; 5. Vendula: +44 (0)20 8385 2587 or www.vendula.co.uk; 6. Ochre Blue:
+44 (0)20 7036 3500 or www.ochreblue.com; 7. Lamb 1887: +44 (0)1924 836 941 or www.lamb1887.com; 8. Gabriella:
+44 (0)1985 212 291 or www.gabysfashion.com
$77,5( ·
1
2
Rainbow collective
Stand out from the sartorial crowd with vibrant colour
blocking, vivid accents and bold shapes
5
6
3
4
8
7
1. Shona Easton Design Studio: +44 (0)1483 272 309 or www.eastondesignstudio.com; 2. Paperthinks: +44 (0)1246 299 800 or
www.paperthinks.com; 3. Lesser & Pavey: +44 (0)1322 279 225 or www.leonardo.co.uk; 4. Leko London: +44 (0)20 8813 8545
or www.leko.co.uk; 5. Gabriella: +44 (0)1985 212 291 or www.gabysfashion.com; 6. Henley: +44 (0)1778 343 000 or
www.timesourceltd.com; 7. RusiDesigns: +66 838 500 444 or www.rusidesigns.com; 8. Vow London: +44 (0)20 8739 1330 or
www.vowlondon.com
$77,5(
Bags & Jewellery
www.nadiaminkoff.com
+44(0) 208 202 1099
Modrec International will be launching the latest
Autumn Winter collections by Saddler, Gino Ferrari
and Pierre Cardin at the INDX show.
We look forward to
seeing you there!
Contact – [email protected]
Tel - + 44 191 2584451 Fax - + 44 191 2582983
www.modrec-int.com
9(1877,
VENUTTI are one of the leading Ladies Fashion Footwear agencies.
We offer 3 ladies fashion shoe and boot brands supplying the Independent Footwear
retailer and Fashion Boutiques. Our aim is to be able to provide a quality product and excellent
customer service to help you in your business
VANILLA MOON
Offers on trend styling but with a very commercial twist
Collections contain summer sandals and shoes through to winter boots
Vanilla Moon works closely with their customers ensuring that profit margins are met.
We find that this is a brand that appeals to a wide age range
SACHELLE COUTURE
Beautifully styled shoes, boots and handbags from one of Spain’s leading factories
Offering the retailer the opportunity to bespoke their order with a wide range of leathers, suede’s and other
materials and adornments enabling them to have a unique offering in
their store. Quality is second to none!
BRENDA ZARO
The brand completes the stable of Three excellent factories
Sitting between her sister’s this offers two categories
Fashionable ladies dress shoes,booties and bags
Excelling in Mother of the Bride collections
A perfect compliment to this is their Sporty wedge range
Showing New Autumn/Winter Collection 2014 at the following shows
LONDON SHOE SHOW,KENSINGTON 16th to 18th March
DUBLIN SHOE SHOW 23rd 25th March 1st October
Enquiries at Email: [email protected] Tel: 01536 310447
HANDBAG TRENDS
1
2
3
CARRY ON
Go effortlessly from day to night with
sophsticated tans, timeless black and
roomy totes
4 5
7
6
8
1&7 Nadia Minkoff: +44 (0)20 8202 1099 or www.nadiaminkoff.com; 2. Vow London: +44 (0)20 8739 1330 or
www.vowlondon.com; 3. Lamb 1887: +44 (0)1924 836 941 or www.lamb1887.com; 4. PellMell: +44 (0)1436 677 442 or
www.pellmell.co.uk; 5. Juno: +44 (0)1484 475 800 or www.junoaccessories.co.uk; 6. Ochre Blue: +44 (0)20 7036 3500 or
www.ochreblue.com; 8. Larah England: +44 (0)7801 822 127 or www.larahengland.com
$77,5(
Save 5% when you place an
order on our new web-site!
Use code ATTIRE5
Phone: 0141 572 7297
Email: [email protected]
w w w. r o s a r e d . c o . u k
INDX
Independent spirit
INDX Accessories & Travel Goods returns to Cranmore Park with a stellar line-up
In brief
Independent retailers are in for a treat this
April, as the INDX Accessories & Travel
Goods exhibition prepares to unveil an
unrivalled exhibitor line-up, with even more
new brands signed up to showcase their
latest collections.
With more than 75 leading names
already supporting the show, including
Fiorelli, Nica, Gabs, Gianni Conti, Bulaggi,
David Jones, Sirco, Just Sheepskin, Kipling
and Smith & Canova, the show will also
be welcoming a host of new exhibitors
including Ollie & Nic, Bewitched, Mala
Leather, Accessory Heaven, Benchmark
Brands, Dee Two and Blousey Brown.
Due to popular demand, the jewellery
and watch sector of the show has expanded,
with more than 20 companies now
confirmed, such as Fiorelli, Karen Millen,
Oasis, Rosa Red and Police, as well as new
brands Bedazzled, Dyrberg/Kern, Bibi
Bijoux and Reine D’Amour.
Show: INDX Accessories & Travel Goods
Venue: Cranmore Park, Solihull
Dates: 8th - 10th April, 2014
Website: www.indxshow.co.uk
INDX Accessories & Travel Goods,
which takes place every April and October
at Cranmore Park in Solihull, offers visitors
a wholly different buying experience. At
INDX it’s all about the buyer, and the
organisers aim to make a visit to the show
as easy and stress-free as possible. All stands
are housed in one showroom, making the
layout easy to navigate. Admission to the
show is free, and parking which is right
outside, is also complimentary. More
importantly, all refreshments are also free
for the duration and buyers can take their
time to make decisions whilst enjoying a
coffee in the comfort of the Central Plaza.
Buyers love the relaxed and friendly
environment of INDX and regular visitors
report that INDX is less hectic than
other shows, which means that they feel
less pressured and can spend more time
planning their buying strategy.
Until now, the INDX shows have
been the industry’s best-kept secret,
and although online registration is now
open, admission is strictly reserved for
independent buyers only. Visit the website
www.indxshow.co.uk to register and find
out more. $
$77,5( ·
Blousey Brown
+44 (0)1458 442 371
www.blouseybrown.co.uk
Bolla Bags
+44 (0)845 643 0777
www.bollabags.com
Now in its fourth year of
operation, Blousey Brown
is quickly developing a
wide customer base across
the UK and continues to
grow through its strong
network of agents. The
brand’s founders comprise
years of handbag and
leather goods experience
through its parent
company, the Satchel
Design Company, which
was established in 1990 and continues to manufacture leather
goods in the company factory in Somerset. Blousey Brown’s wide
range of leather bags offers designs suitable for all tastes and
occasions, from practical backpacks, messenger bags and holdalls
to premium leather totes and shoppers made with mock croc and
suede ‒ the majority of which is held in stock.
With an emphasis
on using soft, supple
leathers and high quality
production methods,
Bolla Bags has been
supplying handbags
for seven years. The
collections always
combine classic and modern design details, while the label’s
sensible pricing has been maintained without compromising on
quality of the leather or workmanship. The Westborough and
Deansgrove pieces from the new Wimbourne range are set to be
popular with both country and city customers in 2014 because of
their luxurious, soft-grain leather textures and considered styling.
Juno
+44 (0)1484 475 800
www.junoaccessories.co.uk
Juno’s latest pieces for next season reflect that the monochrome
trend is set to continue into late 2014. The label’s main collection
is inspired by recent international fashion house catwalks, with
textural colour blocking, glossy patents and a rich tonal palette
of black, magenta, berry, taupe and deep purple. From statement
clutches to classic shoulder bags, the brand has created an edgy
range, while maintaining its signature ladylike style. All of the
styles for autumn/winter 2014 will be on show at INDX.
$77,5(
Rosa Red
+44 (0)141 572 7297
www.rosared.co.uk
This spring, Rosa Red
has embraced all things
nature-based, with the
key inspirations for
2014 being trees, leaves,
butterflies and flowers.
The colours of nature
can also be seen in the
luscious greens and blues
across the collection.
Turquoise tones seep
into teal hues through to
deep navy, and pale and
sage greens complement
one another on a number
of designs, while the other palette brings together vivid pinks,
purples and reds.
As well as the statement pieces Rosa Red is known for, the label
has launched simpler, fine jewellery pieces designed by young
Scottish talent, all named in honour of their creators’ nationality,
with monikers such as Arran and Jura. This range brings a greater
breadth to the Rosa Red offering, and the company is delighted to
be continuing this collaboration with young homegrown talent.
Vi
s
St PU it u
an L s a
d SE t
P4
7A
UK
Maytali’s
Email: [email protected]
www.maytalisuk.co.uk
JEWELLERY TRENDS
A cut
above
A sneak peek at next season’s
hottest gems
Designosaur, www.designosauryeah.blogspot.co.uk
$77,5( ·
3
2
4
1
CHAIN 5
GANG
From delicate links to chunky
pendants, the star of the season
is the statement necklace
6
8
7
1. Gaby: +44 (0)1985 212 291 or www.gabysfashion.com; 2. Maytali’s: +44 (0)7949 526 197 or www.sashas-mind.com; 3. Balagan:
+44 (0)845 260 0925 or www.balagan.co.uk; 4. Peace of Mind: +44 (0)1225 777 749 or www.pom925.com; 5. Fiorelli Silver at Gecko
Jewellery: +44 (0)20 3206 4800 or www.geckojewellery.com; 6. Miss Milly: +44 (0)1905 622 509 or www.missmilly.co.uk; 7. Alexander
Thurlow & Co: +44 (0)20 8766 6466 or www.alexanderthurlow.com; 8. Rosa Red: +44 (0)141 572 7297 or www.rosared.co.uk
$77,5(
1R0LQLPXP2UGHU
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7HO)D[
(PDLOSHDUOV#SHDUOVRIWKHRULHQWFRXN
:HEVLWHSHDUOVRIWKHRULHQWFRXN
JEWELLERY TRENDS
2
1
Highly strung
From elegant pearls to colourful
spheres, beading is more
popular than ever before
5
3
4
6
8
7
1. Carrie Elspeth: +44 (0)1446 771 271 or www.carrieelspeth.com; 2. Pearls of the Orient: +44 (0)1483 202 232 or
www.pearlsoftheorient.co.uk; 3. International Collection: +44 (0)1273 689 582 or www.intercollection.com; 4. Nadia Minkoff:
+44 (0)20 8202 1099 or www.nadiaminkoff.com; 5&6 Lotus Feet: +44 (0)7793 675 070 or www.lotusfeet.co.uk; 7. Balagan:
+44 (0)845 260 0925 or www.balagan.co.uk; 8. Gaby: +44 (0)1985 212 291 or www.gabysfashion.com
$77,5( ·
3
2
1
COSTUME
DRAMA
From quirky motifs to oversize
gems, there’s more than one
way to make an impact
6
5
4
8
7
1. Talbot Fashions: +44 (0)1273 776 415 or www.talbotfashions.co.uk; 2. Designosaur: +44 (0)7939 447 479 or
www.designosauryeah.blogspot.co.uk; 3&7 Belle & Flo: +44 (0)1732 864 527 or www.belleandflo.co.uk; 4&6 Fiorelli Costume at Gecko
Jewellery: +44 (0)20 3206 4800 or www.geckojewellery.com; 5. Nadia Minkoff: +44 (0)208 202 1099 or www.nadiaminkoff.com;
8. Peace of Mind: +44 (0)1225 777 749 or www.pom925.com
$77,5(
A perfect storm
Tempest Designs founder, Sarah Tempest opens up about recognising buyer
trends, evolving production processes and the company’s recent re-branding
Tell me a bit about how Tempest Designs
was started.
Tempest Designs began life as Funky
Jewellery when I was a student in 1996. I
was selling jewellery in a retail capacity in
those days, and it was then that I realised
there was a gap in the wholesale market.
It was difficult to source good quality
fashion jewellery at a reasonable price. I was
brought up around antique jewellery, as my
father was a jeweller, so I used to help him
trade at antique fairs when I was a teenager.
This experience, coupled with my art and
design background, has helped me to trade
in this industry and put my own stamp on
the fashion jewellery I create today.
What was the aim of the label when it was
first established?
The aim was to offer a decent product at
a reasonable price in order for retailers to
retain a good profit margin. Even though
the marketplace has changed considerably I
believe the same applies today.
How were the initial products developed
and what was the response?
Around the turn of the millennium, I went
to China and was lucky to find a factory by
chance that would be exclusive. It was there
that I developed products with the factory
owner’s wife. She didn’t speak English
and my Chinese was minimal, so it was an
interesting experience. I took that collection
to my first trade show in Torquay. It was
“
In 2013 we proved
that we can hold our own
against any of the major jewellery
brands and offer something
different. Our original display
concepts are new additions to
Tempest Designs and gives the
pieces that extra edge in a highly
competitive marketplace.
$77,5(
”
only a small show, but the response we
got was overwhelming and our stand was
really busy.
After working in this industry for many
years, you learn a lot about manufacturing,
and the challenges that need to be
overcome. This has enabled me to fully
research and develop products, before
finding various specialist factories to
manufacture different types of jewellery.
The diversity of my design pieces has
brought about a distinctive style and look
in the collections, which has led us to rebrand the company as Tempest Designs,
which also happens to be my surname!
What challenges were overcome when the
company was starting out?
There are so many challenges ‒ too many
to mention ‒ but I learned very quickly
that running a business is not necessarily
just about buying, selling and stocking the
right products. Getting the stock in on
time to fulfil orders and re-ordering the
right products in the correct quantities is
important, and of course, this all impacts on
cash flow, which is key when starting out.
I’m a creative person, so I found all of this
a bit overwhelming at first. Now, due to
necessity, I have more of a business head on
my shoulders.
What sets you apart from your
competitors in the jewellery industry?
We have the most beautiful and
experimental platings, stone and leather
colour combinations. We stock these, along
PROFILE
with lots of classic jewellery styles. We
create design-led products without the
designer price tag, complete with all the
point-of-sale and display materials required
to market the products successfully. In 2013
we proved that we can hold our own against
any of the major jewellery brands and offer
something different. Our original display
concepts are new additions to Tempest
Designs and gives the pieces that extra edge
in a highly competitive marketplace.
How important is the location and history
of the company to its success?
Our location in the Welsh valleys isn’t
hugely significant in these times of
advanced technology and globalisation ‒ we
now regularly export to Europe and further
“
It has become
more exciting, experimental
and design-led as we shape
our original vision in terms of
colour combinations and material
choices, meaning that we surprise
customers each and every season.
In 2013, we felt that this shift in
design identity has given us the
impetus to re-brand as Tempest
Designs, in order to become a
formidable competitor in today’s
sophisticated fashion jewellery
marketplace.
”
afield. Customers have always ordered
from the many shows we exhibit at, and
new customers have been able to order
stock whenever they like online for some
time now. In fact, the website is largely
responsible for the increase in sales over
the past year or so. We’ve never really relied
on cash and carry sales, but do welcome
customers who do venture to the valleys to
visit us.
How has the product offering changed
over the years and how would you describe
your current collection?
There’s no doubt about it, our products have
improved somewhat over the years. We
understand what our customers want and
build on that by offering them interesting
spin-offs and saleable new designs. It
has become more exciting, experimental
and design-led as we shape our original
vision in terms of colour combinations
and material choices, meaning that we
surprise customers each and every season.
In 2013, we felt that this shift in design
identity has given us the impetus to rebrand as Tempest Designs, in order to
become a formidable competitor in today’s
sophisticated fashion jewellery marketplace.
How often do you launch new lines?
We constantly launch new styles as and
when they come in, and don’t necessarily
have seasonal collections, although I do
consider the suitability of the style for that
season according to the delivery date of the
$77,5( ·
We do most of the UK trade shows, but
Autumn Fair and Spring Fair have to be
best due to the footfall and its central
location. There are so many customers from
a variety of industry sectors at this fair too. I
try to exhibit at as many as possible so that
the customers get the chance to see what
we are doing in the flesh, as pictures on the
website never do justice to the jewellery and
our collections are ever-evolving from one
trade show to the next.
manufactured goods. Recently it’s simply
been a case of keeping up with demand
in 2013. Anyone who’s in this industry
knows that it’s fast-paced and you need to
be constantly on the ball. Currently, we’re
branching out into hair accessories, so it’ll
be interesting to see how the customers
respond to this new product line. I travel to
the Far East regularly in search of and to
create new pieces.
What are your current best-selling
designs? Tell me about the brand’s
recent campaigns.
Rose gold is selling particularly well at
the moment, despite initial hesitation
from some customers. Spin-off heart
designs from previous best-selling lines are
popular too, and customers go crazy for
our new leather colour combinations with
contrasting plating.
In terms of recent campaigns, we just
try to advertise and have a presence in
most industry magazines and keep our
customers informed of the latest news and
developments in the company.
Which trade shows do you attend and
which one works best for you?
$77,5(
When was the website launched and how
does it support the business?
When we initially launched the website a
few years ago, sales were disappointing but
with hindsight, we didn’t have the right
infrastructure at the time. However, even
then we could see it’s potential.
The website is now vitally important ‒
it’s on fire most days! Right now, we have
a lot of customers who actually prefer to
order on the website rather than spending
hours traipsing around a trade show, but
I suppose it depends on individual
customer preferences.
What have been the key milestones for
Tempest Designs over the years?
Moving from commercial and residential
premises to a purely commercial property
was a big but necessary step and we’re
due for another move again soon because
of the recent influx of business. Another
milestone was building relationships with
different factories and changing the product
development process ‒ which happened as
a result of being let down by one supplier
that I had put all my eggs in one basket
with at one stage. This forced me to look
at our whole system differently, bringing
about a complete turnaround, which was all
for the better. Taking the technology side of
the business more seriously by getting the
right people on-board, investing time, effort
and money in the online department, has
been crucial to the brand’s success.
How do you view the current market and
what trends, in terms of both product and
business, do you see emerging over the
coming months?
I view the current market as exciting; it’s
expanding rapidly despite the general
negative economic feeling. Focus is on
original, design-led quality pieces with
reasonable prices to match, which in
turn enables the retailer to compete in a
sophisticated, fast-paced marketplace.
We’ve found that customers want to
re-order the lines that work for them.
They also want new, new, new collections
all the time! This is one of the big trends
we’ve recognised and have planned for
accordingly, and thus we can deliver.
What are your future plans for the
Tempest Designs brand?
We’re planning on moving to bigger
premises to accommodate our everexpanding jewellery range and shipments.
In addition to this, we’ve employed more
staff and want to develop their skills to offer
even better customer service. We intend to
keep the product lines fresh by watching
the catwalk and keeping an eye out for new
materials, in addition to listening to our
customers of course.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Success wouldn’t have happened without
the loyal customers we’ve maintained
relationships with over the years and the
staff who have stuck with the company,
which have made the whole experience
with its ups and downs, blood sweat and
tears, all worthwhile and possible. $
Contact
Tempest Designs
+44 (0)1656 842 102
www.funkyjewellery.com
Versatile – Combine 2 or 3
pendants on a long chain in
Sterling Silver, Rose Gold
plated and Black Rhodium.
www.tezer-design.de
UK contact:
Sharon Acton 07774 928045
NEW DESIGNERS
The Rogue + The Wolf,
www.therogueandthewolf.com
ONES TO WATCH
Attire Accessories unveils the future faces of fashion
$77,5( ·
EMMA GREENHILL
www.emmagreenhill.com
Textile designer Emma Greenhill has gone back to her roots with
her début scarf collection. With each piece offering up a vibrant
collage of shapes, motifs and scribbles, the range not only reflects
her vivacious, ebullient personality but is also proof of her passion
for fashion, contemporary art and printmaking.
The story behind The Running Man series comes from her
love of reading and re-reading The Pursuit of Love and Love in a
Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford, Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh and
The Years by Virginia Woolf. Through her scarves, she brings her
favourite characters ‒ and their worlds ‒ to life.
Scottish-born Emma graduated from Brighton University with a
degree in Textile Design. She has subsequently enjoyed a successful
career in the fashion industry lasting over two decades, working as
a Creative Director and in PR for design houses such as Hussein
Chalayan, Luella, Julien MacDonald, Gibo and Hockley.
THE ROGUE + THE WOLF
www.therogueandthewolf.com
HIGH SPIRIT BAGS
www.highspiritbags.com
High Spirit Bags was founded in 2013, by brothers Joshua and
John Okungbaiye. The backpacks ‒ which feature innovative
zipping designs ‒ are designed to safeguard the wearer’s possessions
from theft and loss. The pair had their brainwave after a trip
to New York, where people had constantly warned them about
pickpockets. Available in an array of on-trend shades and fashionforward prints, the designs are stylish as well as functional.
$77,5(
Eloise and Michael ‒ the independent designer-makers
behind The Rogue + The Wolf ‒ bring their imaginative
flair and high-tech savvy to create striking jewellery. Taking
inspiration from woodland themes, they combine organic
lines with urban edge. The duo favour cutting edge new
technologies that allow them to focus on creativity and
innovation. Making pieces using 3D printing enabled them
to explore design lines and structures that are difficult to
create through traditional manufacturing. The pieces are
available in various materials, from solid sterling silver and
gold plating, to steel and plastic.
Presenting the “Lindy Lou” & “Von Lilienfeld”
collections renowned for superior quality
www.lindy-lou.co.uk
✺
[email protected]
NEW DESIGNERS
CLÉO FERIN MERCURY
www.cleoferinmercury.co.uk
Cléo Ferin Mercury is a London-based independent designer
who makes silk accessories for style lovers of all ages. She playfully
updates traditional products, using bold designs for a contemporary
audience. At a young age she inherited a passion for scarves
from her Parisian grandmother who also taught her the art of
needlework. This commitment to quality and heritage is evident in
all of her pieces.
For autumn/winter 2014, Cléo draws inspiration from the
greatest show on earth and the most incredible performances of
all time. Celebrating the extravagant spectacle and performances
at the circus, she mixes her much-loved characters with playful
illustrations and colour. Featuring tigers, barrel-walking elephants,
flying trapeze performers, harlequins, magicians and horses, the
collection consists of six small silk scarves, 12 large silk scarves and
eight extra-large wool scarves. It also includes six detachable silk
collars and four long silk tiger scarves.
MOJIANA
www.mojiana.com
LARAH ENGLAND
www.larahengland.com
Larah England is a new British handbag brand that exudes
feminine luxury while still offering practical accessories for real
women. Founders Laura Bransby and Sarah Bundy set up the label
last year, drawing on more than 20 years combined experience
in the industry. Made from sumptuous soft washed leathers and
coming in an array of shades, all of the label’s products have a
distinctive, relaxed look, with exquisitely feminine details, such
as hand-plaited handles and ribbon bow plaques. All of the bags
feature Larah England’s signature teapot-print lining, inspired by
the very British tradition of afternoon tea.
Moji Salehi set
up her luxury
accessories label,
Mojiana, in 2013.
Having previous
experience in
textile printing
and interior
design, she used
her sophisticated
creative flair
to produce the Galaxy collection. Combining innovative
structure with distinctive craftsmanship and a strong sense
of attention to detail, the range is a union of architecture,
function and beauty. Highlights include leather cuffs,
clutches, rings and necklaces. All pieces are designed and
hand-crafted in Sussex and London by skilled artisans.
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PROFILE
Highland fling
Taisir Gibreel reveals all about her evolving textile brand and
continuing preoccupation with the Scottish landscape
Tell me a bit about how the Taisir Gibreel
label was started.
The label was established off the back
of a successful degree show and positive
feedback I received at the New Designers
exhibition, coupled with my passion
for design and more than 17 years of
experience in the fashion industry.
My collections demonstrate a fearless
approach to design; bold structural imagery
from the Scottish Parliament building,
against a backdrop of colours and shapes
from the Highlands. Scottish landscapes
provide me with a treasure trove of rich
colours and wonderful organic shapes.
What was the aim of the label when it was
first established?
Honestly, I just love designing; mixing
colours, prints and patterns is my passion
and it’s all I want to do. I love working
with local designers, customers and
manufacturers to produce beautiful
products. Another aim is to build a
community of independent designers
working together. I came across Droog in
Holland, and I think its concept is genius
‒ at some stage I would love to work on
projects alongside other designers.
How were the initial products developed,
and what was the response?
I started by producing heavy silk satin
scarves; they were made from a beautifully
rich and creamy silk. I was blown away by
the response from independent retailers
and galleries willing to take my brand on
board. Many of them are still with me
today; supporting the brand and offering
invaluable advice. Six months ago we
launched our silk crepe de Chine square
scarves as a result of some feedback I’d
received, and it has had a profoundly
positive effect on sales. We’re constantly
working on product development, so
customer feedback is essential.
“
Honestly, I just love
designing; mixing colours,
prints and patterns is my
passion and it’s all I want
to do. I love working with
local designers, customers
and manufacturers to
produce beautiful products.
”
$77,5( ·
“
My collections
demonstrate a fearless
approach to design; bold
structural imagery from
the Scottish Parliament
building, against a
backdrop of colours
and shapes from the
Highlands. Scottish
landscapes provide me
with a treasure trove of
rich colours and wonderful
organic shapes.
”
What challenges were overcome when the
company was starting out?
Staying focused is always tricky for a
creative mind ‒ I have so many ideas
and ambitions, but learning how to keep
focused has been an invaluable lesson.
Sourcing reliable and commercially viable
manufacturers is a constant challenge; I
now produce both in the UK and Italy.
In my experience, it’s vital to build strong
working relationships with suppliers,
since they all play vital roles in building a
successful brand.
Finding the right balance between
quality and price is also crucial. Bringing a
product to market that’s both commercially
viable yet screams good design is always a
challenge. In my experience, it’s necessary
to always strive for better results and never
stopping researching your market.
What sets you apart from your
competitors in the textile industry?
Retailers and consumers are looking for
innovative design that offers both quality
and individuality. I believe by showcasing
my Sudanese and British roots, while
drawing inspiration from the colours and
shapes of the Scottish Highlands, I create
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distinctive, one-off prints ‒ the pure silk
and wool scarf collections have bewitching,
abstract designs. We produce them in the
UK and Italy to ensure quality, which is the
utmost priority for us. Luxurious silk shift
dresses will soon be joining my expanding
collection of designs!
How important is the location and history
of the company to its success?
I love Scotland; the countryside is
unbelievably inspiring, and without a doubt
my mixed cultural background also plays its
own part in influencing my work. I worked
for Oilily for over nine years and this too
has had a profound impact on my ability
to mix patterns and colours and build
strong working relationships. A fusion of
culture, life experience and strong customer
relations underpins the success of my brand.
How has the product offering changed
over the years and how would you describe
your current collection?
A couple of years ago I was given great
advice by a fellow designer, Margot Selby,
who said my designs were there in terms
of originality and quality, but that I needed
to work harder on producing commercially
viable products. Product development
became a number one priority. Six months
ago I launched my new square scarves that
retail at between £89.95 and £139.95. We
had a phenomenal run up to Christmas,
with more than 500 scarves being snapped
up by eager buyers.
My current collection is bold, fun,
luxurious and true to my brand ethos –
while still being accessible and commercial.
How often do you launch new lines?
We introduce four new prints twice a year.
The prints are divided into three themes,
which are colour driven. We offer pastels,
bold colours and subtle combinations. I’ve
just launched a dress collection; simple shift
styles that complement and showcase our
prints. Versatility was a major factor in the
development of our first dress ‒ I like that
they can be worn dressed up or down.
What are the current best-selling designs?
Tell me about your recent campaigns.
The five best-selling designs are Vermilion
Scotch Prism, Vermilion Scotch Magic,
Silver Dew Rainbow, Silver Dew Wave
and Distortion Mist. However, we’ve
just introduced Distortion Circus and
Vermilion Scotch Abstract, which are
proving extremely popular too. Vermilion
Scotch Prism was introduced to the
range six months ago after my friends
and followers on Facebook voted for it to
be printed. Spring/summer 2014 marks
the start of our apparel range, with the
introduction of our new silk crepe de Chine
PROFILE
“
I love Scotland;
the countryside is
unbelievably inspiring,
and without a doubt
my mixed cultural
background also
plays its own part in
influencing my work.
A fusion of culture, life
experience and strong
customer relations
underpins the success
of my brand.
”
shifts, which have been extremely well
received by our retailers.
Which trade shows do you attend and
which one works best for you?
I’ve attended Pure, Pulse, Top Drawer and
NYC Now in the past, and attended InFashion in Munich this February. Pulse is
probably the most successful one for us so
far. This year we want to continue building
our overseas market share, so we’re hoping
to exhibit in Paris and New York again.
When was the website launched and how
does it support the business?
The website was launched two years ago
and is the global face of the brand. It not
only serves as a launchpad for new designs
and products, but also as a vital selling and
communication tool. With the website,
we’re able to communicate and serve our
wholesale customers directly, as well as our
consumers. This is why it’s an area we’re
consistently improving and developing.
What have been the key milestones for
the business over the years?
There have been many milestones: securing
my first couple of stockists ‒ Gallery Q in
Dundee and Pretty Things in Perth and St
Andrews. Subsequently it’s been gaining
our stockists in Japan, and more recently,
selling to The House of Bruar.
How do you view the current market
and what trends, both in product and in
business, do you see emerging over the
coming months?
Consumers are eager to learn more about
the designer and the narrative behind the
products and are increasingly interactive.
Good design and quality products are
becoming the essential catalysts behind
consumer behaviour and spending. Retailers
are looking for original products that are
not only commercial and accessible, but
exhibit quality in their design. Furthermore,
there’s clearly a demand for colour ‒ which
is here to stay.
Another shift is that manufacturers are
eager to work with independent designers
and build long-term relationships. It’s
an ever-evolving process, but extremely
rewarding. Additionally, collaborations
between designers have proven invaluable
for small businesses in negotiations with
manufacturers. We joined forces in our
last production run, giving us stronger
negotiating powers.
What are your future plans for the Taisir
Gibreel brand?
That’s like opening Pandora’s Box! I have
so many ideas for new designs and new
products, but my focus must remain the
name of the game. For the foreseeable
future I will continue to build the brand
in the UK and overseas, while also
concentrating on designing new prints and
developing my apparel range further.
I’ll also continue my freelance design
work; I’m currently working on several
projects, which are a source of great
inspiration for my design. $
Contact
Taisir Gibreel
+44 (0)7947 959 926
www.taisirgibreel.co.uk
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TRAVEL ACCESSORIES
All aboard
Help your customers take off in style with a
selection of the best travel accessories
Oilily
www.colourful-licenses.com
Whether your customers are
business travellers or simply
going away for a weekend city break, they’re sure to be enchanted by the whimsical,
pattern-adorned Oilily range of suitcases and bags. The Dutch fashion house celebrated
50 years of offering creative womenswear, childrenswear and luggage solutions in 2013,
and the latest selection of travel accessories reflect its playful, quirky design approach.
Summery prints abound in the Spring Ovation, Gable Stones, Bellefleurs, Dutch
Aquarel, Hollandia and Veggies collections.
Ashwood Leather
www.ashwoodleather.co.uk
Ashwood Leather produces
innovative designs combined
with timeless shapes for the
latest generation of gentlemen.
By only using specially
selected tanned hides, each
product retains its natural and
individual character combined
with modern manufacturing
techniques to ensure a tailored
finish. This classic collection
captures the spirit of the past
with the necessities of the future. In addition to the catalogue ranges, the brand works
with its customers to develop bespoke own-label products.
Mala Leather
www.malaleather.com
Rimini, Lucy and Odyssey are the
ultra-chic passport cover styles from
Mala Leather. Rimini features embossed
detailing on the outside and contrasting
colours on the interior, and is available
in pink/purple, turquoise/orange, purple/
lime and cobalt/pink colourways. Lucy has
heart details and internal print, with shade
options including black, pink, purple and
red. The Odyssey design comes in black,
brown, pink and purple hues.
Vaude
www.vaude.com
Vaude is a stylish range of backpacks,
messenger bags and trolley cases from
one of Germany’s most respected
and eco-friendly outdoor and travel
companies. Many of the brand’s
products are made from 100 per cent
recycled materials. For more than 30
years, Vaude has stood for excellence in
mountain sports and is now one of Europe’s leading outdoor sports and travel luggage
names. Today, Vaude is one of the very few privately-owned enterprises in the industry
that has successfully withstood the trend toward consolidation. The company takes
its green credentials very seriously and has won many awards for sustainability. It has
the strictest criteria for eco products in the entire outdoor and luggage market and
the products are now sold worldwide. The brand’s Packs ’n Bags range is exclusively
available from Brand Agility. Contact Jacquie Sandison for more information by calling
+44 (0)131 554 5555 or email [email protected].
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Lesser & Pavey
www.leonardo.co.uk
Fashion and travel accessories, a growing market for Lesser &
Pavey, and the license of Jennifer Rose brings a floral range with a
classic grey tone background. There’s something for everyone, from
handbags to shoulder bags, shoppers to iPad covers, all beautifully
presented and priced at affordable prices. This delightful collection
includes nostalgic satchels in bold colours, polka dot overnight
bags and sweet floral pink designs.
Picture Case
www.picturecase.co.uk
The Cuties hard cases and backpacks have proved a great success
with children and adults alike. The range is expanding into soft
luggage and accessories, now launching high quality trolley cases,
rucksacks, foldable pocket-size shoulder bags, string bags, neck
pillows and wallets. Available in four animal designs, each with
lots of special features that kids will love, the new styles really
stand out from the crowd.
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Half Moon Bay
www.halfmoonbay.co.uk
Half Moon Bay has a number of
new Wartime products to mark
the centenary of World War One.
Whether you’d prefer a hot or cold
drink, the gift and housewares
company has something to suit,
with its vast selection of vacuum
flasks, as well as new water bottles
and hip flasks. The brand has also launched a new satchel and
duffel bag which were inspired by the recruitment campaigns
of the First World War. Complementing this is its selection of
products with a striking trench map design, which include a tablet
sleeve and wash bag.
Caribee
www.caribee-uk.com
When it comes to travel bags, Australian brand Caribee has
packed every bit of its 50 years of experience in the market
into making the third generation of its Fast Track 85 pack
with wheels. Whether your customer is a gap year student or a
business traveller, the Fast Track range will meet all their travel
needs. Lightweight, durable, practical,
spacious and crammed full of useful
features, the Fast Track is rapidly
becoming the go-to bag for discerning
travellers. The versatile product has
such broad appeal in the many different
situations globetrotters find themselves
in. Whether they need to wheel their
luggage across a smooth airport lounge,
pick it up and sling it in the back of
a truck, or throw it on their back and
hike for miles, it’s equally comfortable.
Fast Track is two rucksacks in one.
There’s a detachable 10ltr day-pack,
ideal as carry-on luggage on planes or
for shorter excursions, while the roomy
75ltr main bag comes with wheels
attached or can just as easily be carried
like a backpack. Brand Agility is the
UK distributor for Caribee.
VAUDE Packs ‘n Bags range is
exclusively available from
Brand Agility Ltd,
35 West Bowling Green Street,
Edinburgh EH6 5NX
For more information call Jacquie Sandison
Tel: 0131 554 5555 or
Email: [email protected]
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New kid on the block
David Mackley discusses omni-channel retailing and what it means for
independent retailers
When we started Intelligent Retail nearly
10 years ago, the term multi-channel wasn’t
used very often in retail, in fact we picked
up the domain www.multichannel.co.uk
for just £300. Nowadays, the term is widely
used across all levels of retail. However,
in the last couple of years a new term has
been doing the rounds; ‘omni-channel’ is
hitting the streets. But does this phrase
tell us something new is on the horizon or
is it just the multi-channel story under a
different guise?
Mobile retailing
I was at the e-commerce Expo Conference
in London recently and Google was
doing a presentation from a mobile phone
(projected onto a big screen). The main
story of the day was the incredible rise of
mobile phone commerce. They are seeing
the core growth in e-commerce coming
from smartphones. For Christmas, 2013,
the speaker predicted that more than 30
per cent of retail queries would come
from smartphones. If this trend continues,
mobile will be the dominant device in retail
search this year.
This is an ultra-fast growing retail
channel and is slightly different from
computer or even tablet-based retailing. For
example, Google is increasingly using the
user’s location in search. It usually knows a
user’s browsing habits and can mix a user’s
favourite things with local search results to
come up with relevant websites even before
a search is made. For example, if Google
knows a user likes to look for jewellery
shops, and that they are currently in Leeds,
Google NOW will auto show results that
may be of interest like shops that sell
jewellery in Leeds. Voice recognition is
also becoming smarter, and this will be
more commonly used in the future to make
searching easier.
We know that for Smartphones, the
larger retailers like John Lewis present a
different version of their website tuned for
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the small screen. Research in web usability
indicates this is best practise.
So, in Smartphones we have another
somewhat different, yet huge retail channel
that has only arisen in the last few years.
For the independent retailer, this is another
retail channel to consider whether or not to
invest in.
Constantly connected
Multi-channel Retail describes the type of
retail that crosses more than one channel.
Whilst companies like Argos have been
retailing across multiple channels for
decades, the term has become commonly
used to describe retailers that are selling via
stores and online channels.
Convenience has always been one of the
key factors in retail. Now with computers
everywhere, including on our smartphones,
it’s simple for the consumer to shop
wherever they happen to be. This of course
has created new channels by which retailers
can reach their customers.
Website, smartphone, mail order, stores
and events are all channels that retailers
can use to present shopping opportunities
for their customers. A multi-channel or
cross-channel approach describes the way
a retailer can target each of these channels
and somehow link them together.
Customer comes first
Omni-channel Retail looks at this from a
slightly different angle. Rather than look
from the retailer’s perspective and linking
these channels together, omni-channel
looks at the consumer’s perspective. An
omni-channel retailer presents their
customer with a consistent brand and
RETAIL TECHNOLOGY
service level no matter what technology
or channel they use. Omni-channel is a
customer perspective rather than a retail
one. Omni-channel starts with looking
at your customers and what they need,
then the channels are selected to meet
these needs. A good omni-channel retailer
starts with understanding the customers’
needs and wants as well as their desires
and habits. Then the retailer will strive to
present the right experience for them no
matter which channel they shop on.
Why omni-channel?
Well, selling across multiple channels
obviously allows retailers to engage with
more new customers, if it’s done well.
Studies also show that when retailers sell
via multiple channels, they sell more to each
person on average. It seems multi-channel
encourages customers to part with more of
their money, either on larger purchases or
just more purchases.
Research by Price Waterhouse Cooper
(PWC) showed that more than half of
shoppers will spend more with a retailer
when they shop via multiple channels. A
study by Deloitte has shown that multichannel consumers spend, on average, 82
per cent more than their single-channel
counterparts in clothing, home and
electrical sectors. In the electrical sector,
62 per cent of all purchases are multichannel purchases and on average these
multi-channel consumers spend £238 per
transaction, compared to the average of
£160 spent by a traditional single-channel
consumer. Now, the electrical sector lends
itself to multi-channel retailing because,
unlike clothing, there’s no need to try
anything on. Also, there’s less emphasis
on aesthetics. Instead, consumers are more
interested in factors such as convenience,
specification and price.
What’s the difference?
Is omni-channel a new approach to retail?
I don’t think so. There is no difference
between omni- and multi-channel, it’s just
jargon. Any good retailer will look at what
their customer needs and find a neat way
to present products to them at the time
they want to buy. Any good retailer will
also want to ensure a very good quality of
customer service by managing stock levels
centrally. So whether we call it omnichannel or multi-channel, the basic good
principles of retailing apply. Provide a good
service with good products at a good price
that is convenient for the customer, and this
applies to all channels.
So multi-channel retail is about more
than price, although price will always be a
strong factor. Consumers want choice, the
right shopping experience, a trusted brand,
good returns policy, good information
and resources. Retailers that can offer this,
while providing a good multi-channel retail
experience, can do very well in the multichannel age. In fact, studies have shown
that businesses which embrace multichannel retail concepts are much more
likely to be successful. $
David Mackley MBA
BSc is Managing
Director of Intelligent
Retail – www.
intelligentretail.
co.uk – providers of
Multichannel EPoS and eCommerce
websites for independent retailers. If you
have any questions you can contact David
on +44 (0)845 680 0126 or email at
[email protected].
$77,5(
tel: +31 6 53 17 98 68
www.bronte.nl
www.idhats.com
HATS AND FASCINATORS
HAT TRICK
A look at three British labels offering on-trend and
occasion-appropriate takes on millinery
Rosie Olivia Millinery
www.rosieoliviamillinery.com
With a rapidly growing
private client base and her
creations seen everywhere
from Sandringham to society
weddings and Ascot to Aintree
Races, milliner Rosie’s hats are
where heads should be at this
season. The latest collection
retains her signature sense
of elegance with a fun twist;
featuring bright colours, intricate beading and luxurious fabrics. Widebrimmed hats, caps, berets, perchers and smaller hats sport an exciting
range of trims, including Rosie’s delicate hand-made lace, ostrich and
guinea fowl feathers, as well as decadent Swarovski hat pins. Hats
from previous Rosie Olivia collections have been snapped up by HRH
Princess Beatrice and Pippa Middleton. Each hat is hand-made by the
designer herself.
W H Hunt
www.whhunt.co.uk
Founded in 1895,
W H Hunt is a
well-established
company with a solid
and loyal client base.
The brand constantly
works to improve
the quality of its
customer service and
to enhance its already
extensive range of
fashion accessories.
Going forward, the
label will be offering
even more trendconscious fascinator
collections in a
spectrum of chic and
statement shades alongside its other accessories ranges. W H Hunt’s agents
travel throughout the UK and Ireland visiting customers on a regular basis.
Alice Hannah
www.alicehannah.co.uk
Knitwear designer Claire Pitcher’s latest collection
for Alice Hannah is divided into four trends: Alice
Chic, Baby Doll, Future Folk and Pop Culture.
Inspired by Chanel and ’50s elegance, the hats in the
monochrome Alice Chic range feature daisy, heart
and greyhound motifs, as well as red accents and net
details for added day-to-night elegance. Baby Doll,
meanwhile, is an ultra-feminine selection of pastel
pieces adorned with pearls, crystal brooches and fur
pom poms. Future Folk has a more artisanal approach,
combining rich patterns and chunky textures, while
Pop Culture is a kitschy celebration of the Pop Art
generation with tactile eyelash wool cat hats, graphic
jacquards and sequins.
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Best of both worlds
We speak to Vicki Purnell, owner of Purnell Jewellery,
and Terry and Irene Chandler, owners of Powell Home
Fashion, who teamed up to open fashion and lifestyle
boutique, Purnell & Powell last year about the benefits
of combining jewellery and giftware in-store
What items do you sell at Purnell &
Powell, and from which companies?
Vicki: Purnell Jewellery sells work by UKbased jewellery designers, Odette, Rebecca
Steiner, Ellen Monaghan and Julia Burness
and Purnell. We also offer a commission
service for wedding and engagement rings,
on-site repairs and one-off pieces.
Terry and Irene: Our products are sourced
from all over the world. We stock items
from Sia, Pairfum, Azeti and Ruby Ruth
among others. We also source stunning
one-off pieces ourselves for unusual
additions to the home.
What is your career background?
Vicki: I’ve been in the jewellery trade for 15
years, starting out at DeBeers as a diamond
sorter and, after gaining a degree in
Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts
at Sir John Cass, London, worked at a
number of companies in various areas of the
London jewellery trade, from supply and
manufacturing to design and commission
work. My work has been featured in a
number of high profile exhibitions in the
UK and Japan. I’m very passionate about
the jewellery trade and making sure my
clients are involved in each stage of a
project. Purnell Jewellery was created in
2009 with its permanent home, Purnell &
Powell opening in 2013.
Terry and Irene: Our background is
engineering, manufacturing, senior
transport management and general
business owners.
When did you open your shop and what
was your inspiration for doing it?
Vicki: Purnell & Powell was opened in
July 2013 and is the combination of two
companies, Purnell Jewellery and Powell
Home Fashion. Our inspiration came from
trying to bring new ideas and high quality
products to the local area. We wanted to
encourage the community to shop locally
and support local business.
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What’s your best-selling product?
Vicki: My best-selling products are handcrafted, one-off commissions such as
wedding and engagement rings.
Terry and Irene: Our best-selling home
product ranges are our candle, doorstop and
Azeti lines.
Please describe the interior and layout of
your shop.
Vicki: Our shop is divided into two
environments. We have Powell home
accessories in the front of the shop. The
decor is very contemporary and open with
plinths and niche style walls to contain
our products. Our aim is to tickle the
senses with room scents, effective lighting
and selective music to create an ambient
shopping experience. At the rear of the
shop we have Purnell Jewellery with a
contemporary and welcoming commission
area and jewellery workshop, giving the
customer the feeling of being involved in
the project to create their dream item.
How often do you change your window
displays and why?
We change our window displays once
a week. The reason for this being that
the window is the main focal point for
customers looking in from the outside. We
merchandise our products into theme and
colour groups.
How important is product knowledge and
customer service in-store?
It’s essential. As a small retail business, it’s
very important to have a good relationship
with your customers. By providing a
comfortable, friendly retail environment
and a knowledgable service, customers are
more likely to return and tell their friends
about your company. A good reputation
for knowledge, skills and passion for the
product can be a deciding factor when
purchasing a piece of jewellery. I find that
working on a personal level achieves the
best results.
RETAILER INTERVIEW
What do you consider to be your core
customer base?
The majority of our customers commission
one-off pieces, such as engagement rings,
wedding rings and sentimental jewellery.
From our on-site commission room
and workshop, we’re able to offer a very
personalised service, involving the customer
in each stage of the design process to
achieve optimum results and satisfaction.
We also offer an on-site repair service
and sell a selection of UK based designermakers in the shop.
What are the key factors you consider
when sourcing new jewellery lines?
The key factor is the designer, who they
are, what inspires them and how their
brand will fit in with the customer base at
Purnell & Powell. The labels we stock are
established or up-and-coming talents in
the designer-maker jewellery field. They’re
all based in the UK and offer work that’s
completely different from the massproduced items which are often sold in
commercial jewellery stores. We’re always
on the look-out for new talent as it keeps
our stock fresh and exciting.
How important is an online presence for
Purnell & Powell?
As we’re two separate trading companies
‒ Purnell Jewellery and Powell Home
Fashion ‒ an online presence is very
important to give the two brands a chance
to grow. A website for Purnell Jewellery is
currently under construction and will go
live within the next two months. Powell
Home Fashion also has an online store in
production at the moment. Social media
is essential as it gives people a chance to
see promotions, information and a little
of what goes on behind the scenes. I often
post pictures online, either of finished
commission pieces or from my work bench.
Purnell & Powell has a Facebook page and
Twitter account, while Purnell Jewellery
has a Facebook page, Twitter profile and
Pinterest account.
Do you run any special events to attract
new customers?
We hold occasional open evenings with
discounts, drinks and nibbles for customers
on our mailing list. We also run jewellery
parties, which have proved hugely successful
in getting our brand known to new people.
How do you view the current state of the
retail market?
The shop has only been open since July
2013 so it’s still early days. We’re very busy
on both sides of the business which is
fantastic. As awareness of our shop grows,
so will the customer base. We’ve found that
by sticking to certain price points there’s
always an option for any budget.
What advice do you have for other
independent retailers opening their first
boutique in 2014?
Research everything. Know your product
and customer. Provide a service that’s a
cut above the rest. Take something from
every situation and circumstance, whether
it’s good or bad. Ask for as much feedback
as possible from your customers and learn
from it.
Do you have any plans to expand or buy
other shops?
Our shop would work very well in other
high streets around the UK. Due to our
pricing, we’re able to offer one-of-a-kind
items at very competitive rates.
What’s next for Purnell & Powell?
This year will see us build upon the great
start that we made in 2013. We feel we have
every chance of expansion because of to the
appealing products that we stock. $
Contact
Purnell & Powell
+44 (0)20 8763 0156
www.purnelljewellery.co.uk
www.powellhomefashion.co.uk
$77,5(
EYEWEAR
In the frame
We take a look at the hottest eyewear on
the market, from all-year-round specs to
summertime shades
Opticaid
www.opticaid.net
This year is set to be Opticaid’s best yet, with its freshly expanded Remaldi
branded reading glasses and sun-reader ranges. The brand offers both
contemporary and classic frames, in plastic and metal finishes, with even
more choice for ladies and men. Popular this season are the Italy-inspired
Treviso line, with polycarbonate lightweight lenses, the fun Phoenix
collection in leopard, Aztec and citrus designs and the more classically
elegant Windsor range also with polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate
lenses are approximately 30 per cent lighter than a plastic lens. All styles
retail at £12.99 and are available in six reading strengths. The Remaldi new
sunglasses range also offers something for everyone, with timeless ladies’
and men’s styles and the new Wayfarer-inspired frames. The brand now
also includes styles with polarised lenses due to customer demand.
Goodlookers
www.goodlookers.co.uk
Goodlookers’ spring/summer 2014 eyewear collection is the label’s
biggest yet, with more than 30 eye-catching new models added to its
best-selling reading spectacles range, all sharing the great quality and
fantastic value that has come to be associated with the brand. New
reader models include Kent, a trendy retro unisex frame shape made
with ultra-thin, yet very durable polycarbonate for maximum comfort
and Mia, which incorporates patent faux leather arms in a spectrum of
bright fun colours. Also new for this season is Daytona, an of-themoment men’s frame shape, and NeckSpecs, which have elongated
arms so that they can be hung conveniently from the neck.
Goodlookers has also revitalised its sunglasses offering, with
a myriad of trendy new designs, including many fabulously retro
shapes. Also fresh for spring are CoverSpecs ‒ polarised sunglasses to
wear over prescription eyewear, and a stunning range of bifocal sunreaders. To complement the comprehensive new collection is an array
of glasses cases and striking chains. The brand has a great selection
of in-store displays and offers flexible re-order quantities with a fast
turnaround time.
Clere Vision
www.clerevision.co.uk
Clere Vision’s glasses for the 2014 spring/summer season
reflect the quality and trend-setting designs synonymous
with the brand. The new collection contains a mixture of
classic and new shapes, bold designs and bright colours, as
well as some more conservative styles equally suitable for
gents. Spots, stripes and swirls make for an eye-catching
display that will complement spring and summer fashions.
There’s also a new tartan design available in vibrant pink
and a more traditional green. The final range to be launched
in the New Year is a cat’s eye-shaped design available in
two pastel shades, featuring delicate crystals on the frame.
$77,5( ·
Proof
www.iwantproof.co.uk
Pioneering wooden eyewear brand, Proof has created
a vibrant début collection of 10 fashion-forward
lines with strong green credentials as well as a real
emphasis on design. Using a range of sustainablysourced materials such as bamboo, lacewood and
ebony, the brand’s expert team of designers make use
of the different grain patterns to create one-of-a-kind
frames that offer a modern take on a classic style
staple. The ECO (Environmentally Conscious Optics)
line uses the best plant-based acetate and is 100 per
cent renewable, biodegradable and hypo-allergenic.
The company’s latest offering, the Skateboard
collection, is crafted from reclaimed five-ply maple
skateboard decks, which give each frame a distinctive,
original look as well as real durability.
Founded by three brothers in 2010 following many
years spent around their grandfather’s sawmill, the
brand came from surprisingly humble beginnings in
a garage in Eagle, Idaho. Proof has wrestled its way
to the forefront of creative and functional fashion on
its merits as a young, ambitious brand that fuses real
ethics and principles with great design ideas.
About Face
www.aboutface.ltd.uk
The About Eyes collection this season provides consumers with more
choice and variety than ever before. With an eye on the forthcoming
spring/summer 2014 season, the label has decided to build on the success
of last year’s selection of sun-readers and bifocal sun-readers with even
more styles. About Face’s customers have said that there’s a real need for
reading glasses that can be worn in the sun which are not just high quality
in design, but also stylish. With this feedback, the brand incorporated the
latest on-trend designs in terms of shape, colour and pattern into the range.
Animal print is still very popular, so it features in a number of pieces in the
range. Bifocal sunglasses were a particular hit last year, so for 2014, About
Face has expanded this line. Many of the company’s frames have the latest
sunglasses look in terms of design, while incorporating magnification for
reading – looking chic on the beach while being able to read your magazine
is definitely a winning formula!
Vow London
www.vowlondon.com
Launched this season, Vow London is a new multi-product fashion accessories
brand established by Anglo, one of UK retail’s leading accessories suppliers. It’s
positioned to deliver designer styling and genuine quality at accessible midmarket price points. The eyewear collection offers an array of UK-designed,
vintage-inspired sunglasses with a modern twist. Premium acetates have been
selected to match each hand-made style and there’s a style to suit every face
shape. Subtle logos on the inside of the temple and tip indicate the glasses’
brand identity. In an array of different tortoiseshell shades and modernist shapes,
Vow London brings a fresh design approach to the eyewear market.
$77,5(
Reading Glasses, Sunglasses,
Sun Readers & Accessories
7
(JOGP!DMFSFWJTJPODPVL
:XXXDMFSFWJTJPODPVL
Blooming radiant
Taking inspiration from Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Radiant Orchid,
here’s a bouquet of floral ideas in vibrant garden hues to bring spring
into your window display
Clutch bag
with flower
embellishments
ASOS, £35
www.asos.com
Jewelcity, www.jewelcity.co.uk
Hanging garden sign
Wilko, £2.50
+44 (0)845 608 0807
www.wilko.com
Floral folk cross stitch rug
Oliver Bonas, £245
+44 (0)20 8974 0110
www.oliverbonas.com
Fancy flowers garland kit
The Oak Room, £8.99
+44 (0)1707 257 175
www.oakroomshop.co.uk
$77,5(
Pink flower and bird hook
Sisters Guild, £18.99
www.sistersguild.co.uk
WINDOW DRESSING
Hanging aeriums
Chive UK, £21.25
+44 (0)800 434 6225
www.chiveuk.com
Sagaform tulip paper napkins
The Scandinavian Shop, £4.50
+44 (0)1436 673 623
www.scandinavianshop.co.uk
Digital print floral cushion
House of Fraser, £40
+44 (0)845 602 1073
www.houseoffraser.co.uk
Betsy mirror
Berry Red, £20
+44 (0)845 450 3937
www.berryred.co.uk
Violet light
Living It Up, £160
+44 (0)116 269 5960
www.livingitup.co.uk
Lettuce, www.lettucewinter.co.uk
$77,5(
Q&A
All the answers
OUR EXPERTS TACKLE YOUR
RETAIL-RELATED QUERIES
Kerry Wilson is Creative
Manager at Morplan. Since
studying Fashion Design
& Marketing at university,
Kerry has spent more than 20
years working with Morplan’s
Marketing department to
develop and promote the
5,000 plus retail products
within the company’s range.
She’s also worked in fashion
and accessory retail and PR.
Call Kerry on
+44 (0)1279 451 122 or
email at kerry.wilson@
morplan.com
Jeremy Piercy is Managing
Director of Shared Earth,
the fair trade business that
he founded in York in 1986.
He also recently co-founded
Walk Against Crime, which
supports a slum community
in Nairobi, Kenya. Jeremy
believes that in tough times,
it’s all the more important to
remember ethics as we make
our business decisions.
Call Jeremy on +44 (0)1904
632 896 or email him at
jp@sharedearthnewsandmedia.
co.uk
Displaying valuables securely
Q
A
I’m looking at stocking some high-end
silver giftware in my shop, but security
will obviously be a consideration. What’s
the best way of displaying the giftware
safely and securely but still allowing
customers to view the products fully?
Kerry says: Displaying high-value items
is always a challenge; finding the right
balance between security and visibility can
be tricky – especially if space is limited. The
starting point has to be finding a lockable
glass showcase.
If you’ll be displaying one-off items that
will need to be removed from the display
for every purchase, make sure you can get
into it easily without having to contort into
tight corners or disrupt other shoppers.
If the showcase contents is for display
only, with stock stored elsewhere, then
accessibility ceases to be such an issue. You
can make your displays more elaborate or
creative if they won’t need to be disrupted
every time you sell something.
Darren Bull founded
Metakinetic in 2005, after
running one of the country’s
largest online retail teams.
Darren consults with a wide
range of Metakinetic’s clients
on retail challenges, from
conversion rate optimisation
through to channel strategy.
Darren is also central to the
development of Metakinetic’s
e-commerce solution,
MetaCommerce.
Call him on +44 (0)118 324
9000 or email at darren.bull@
metakinetic.com
Silverware will benefit from an
illuminated showcase; many are supplied
complete with spotlights, while others
allow you to add what you need. You’ll
need to keep the contents dust free as the
lights will pick up every speck – wearing
cotton gloves when arranging displays will
prevent fingerprints. If it’s going in a corner
or window, rotating shelves or turntables
will add eye-catching movement while
ensuring maximum visibility. Don’t forget
an illuminated or rotating showcase will
need to be plugged in, so make sure it’s near
a socket!
Acrylic blocks or pedestals will ensure
every item can be seen clearly, especially if
everything is of a similar size. Make sure
that all the prices are visible; a customer
who has seen the price and still wants
to take a closer look is far more likely to
purchase. You could label items individually
or include a price list within the display.
Stay away from self-adhesive labels which
could leave marks over time.
Finally, the extra assistance your
Charlotte Cowell started
out in the industry as Editor
of various magazines in
the toy, greetings cards and
art licensing sectors, then
spent a number of years
working behind the scenes on
international retail exhibitions
and ground-breaking online
publications. She now works
on a freelance basis offering
media consultancy, copy
and feature writing, social
networking and PR services
to the trade. Visit www.
giftsandgreetingsreview.com.
silverware customers require will take you
away from the till and other customers, so
make sure you have the staff on hand to
keep everyone happy and the rest of the
store safe.
Fair trade fashion accessories
Q
A
I currently stock fair trade giftware and
garments. Is stocking a line of fair trade
fashion accessories a good idea and what’s
the best way to go about sourcing it? Jeremy says: If you already stock fair trade
giftware and garments, chances are you
may already stock some accessories such as
scarves or purses, but if you don’t then you’ll
only be doing yourself a favour by widening
your product range.
Bags are also an area where lots of
excellent fair trade varieties are available.
As for jewellery, if you don’t stock it,
remember it hardly takes up any space and
again there’s a huge variety on the market.
Fair trade really benefits those who need it.
Tara Projects in India, for instance, which
$77,5( ·
&
QA
supplies high street chains as well as fair
trade wholesalers like Shared Earth and
Traidcraft, run literacy schools in slums,
like the Indira Camp in New Delhi where
300 families live with one family to a
room. There’s no running water, and the
communal taps only come on for an hour in
the morning and evening. Yet there’s a great
community spirit there, which you sense in
Tara’s schools. They include children, a few
teenagers, and women in their ’30s, ’50s and
even ’70s – all in the same class. There are
no buildings, just rush mats on concrete, a
blackboard and a teacher.
Similar stories can be heard from fair
trade jewellery producers in Nepal, Kenya,
Ecuador and countless other countries
around the world. If you don’t already
stock fair trade accessories, why not start?
Prices aren’t necessarily higher than
other wholesalers, designs are sometimes
outstanding, and wholesalers like Shared
Earth even allow returns on all products,
reducing risk to zero. Above all, you’ll be
doing something with your business beyond
just making a living for yourself – you’ll
be helping others to escape poverty, child
labour and exploitation. I believe we would
all like to do something positive with our
lives if we can, and in supporting fair trade
you’ll also be going along with a growing
trend – so many customers these days
would prefer to buy fair trade if they can.
As for sourcing fair trade accessories, I’ve
mentioned two companies but you’ll find
there’s a wealth of choice out there.
From visitor to buyer
Q
A
How can I turn more visitors to my
e-commerce website into buyers?
Darren says: This is one of the most
frequently asked questions I get from
clients. Well, you’ve already made it past
the first hurdle in getting visitors to your
website ‒ now you need to persuade them
to make a purchase. The trick is to make it
$77,5(
as easy as possible for visitors to buy from
you, so if you want to maximise your sales
success, review the following areas:
Site navigation
Your website needs to help visitors find
an item as quickly as possible. Carrying
out a customer journey analysis will show
you how your visitors are behaving and
whether poorly organised menus and bad
categorisation are responsible for deterring
visitors from making a purchase.
Product descriptions
If visitors are dropping off at the product
page, your on-page copy could be to blame.
It may be that you’re using bland copy that’s
failing to capture a customer’s imagination,
or that it’s confusing and contradicts
the image. You may have given too little
information to satisfy any doubts about the
purchase, especially higher-priced items.
Checkout
Customers now favour a streamlined
checkout process. Any lengthy registration
processes only act as a further block to
conversion. Guest checkouts work well to
speed up purchase times, and you should
also check that there are no hidden costs
added on at the checkout stage which may
be turning your customers away.
A/B testing
Now you know which section of the
customer journey is failing to convert
you can start A/B testing to pin-point
the changes that’ll have the biggest
impact. A/B testing involves setting up
two different versions of the same page,
one with a specific change. This could
be a completely new section of product
information or something as small as a
different coloured Buy Now button, but
it’s the most precise way to see what will
directly improve your conversion rate.
Trade shows
Q
I’d like to book a stand at a trade fair. How
do I decide what show is best for me?
A
Charlotte says: The home and gift industry
is incredibly diverse and people oriented.
Face-to-face contact and the forging of
strong business relationships and networks
are vital to the success of any company.
There are thousands of suppliers who
serve this industry – ranging from major
established companies to individual startups – who need to get their products to
market in the most effective way possible,
and this is where trade shows come in.
The choice of exhibitions is also diverse,
with huge international buying events that
incorporate several vertical market sectors
rubbing shoulders with regional fairs and
specialist shows that serve a particular
product category.
All businesses have their own individual
requirements and must decide which type
of event will best suit those needs. If it’s
access to the widest possible audience of
serious buyers and export opportunities
they’re seeking, then a large-scale
international show is the best option, while
companies with a niche product and clearly
defined target audience may be more at
home at a more narrowly-focused event.
Location and budget also play a part. For
example, a smaller company whose retail
clients are all based in Cornwall might
not want or need to travel far out of their
geographical area to achieve their targets.
That said, there are no hard and fast rules
to this and so much depends on the actual
product being launched. Even at a show the
size of Spring Fair – the largest retail trade
event in the UK – superstar products will
leap out of the aisles at prospective buyers.
Spring Fair exhibitors include some of
the biggest global players in the industry,
but there are also hundreds of smaller
businesses and start-ups who choose this
exhibition as their launchpad to the trade.
Together they create the vibrancy and
diversity that helps make this industry such
an interesting and enjoyable place to work. $
Your strongest asset
Dids MacDonald, CEO of Anti Copying
in Design (ACID), discusses IP and
brand protection
The ACID brand is a registered community
trademark offering exclusivity in 28 member
states Registration No. 004750741
Whether you’re a sole, micro, SME or
major brand, the name you trade under says
it all. Some create a signature brand trading
under their own surname; others create a
name by which they are known.
Most agree that a strong brand is
invaluable in a competitive market, which
intensifies month by month. Establishing
customer confidence and the perception
another holds about your performance –
whether it’s an organisation, idea, service
or product – is a critical component of
any brand strategy. As a brand grows
there’s an increasing expectation to deliver
consistently and it forms the polar axis from
which you communicate and differentiate
your offering.
Intellectual property rights provide
legal protection for brands in the form of
a registered right (trade mark) and this is
a sign which can distinguish your goods
from those of your competitors and it can
be made of words, logos or a combination
of both.
Why should you register your trademark?
A UK trademark registration will give you
an exclusive right to use it for the goods or
services that you provide and will act as a
deterrent against anyone trading on your
name without permission. If someone does
use your trademark without permission,
it’s easier to take legal action if you have a
registered right. Proactively, you can use it
for business building opportunities such as
licensing or franchising. It’s also a tangible
asset for raising finance. You can also use
the Registered symbol ®.
How can you register?
In the UK you can register through the
Intellectual Property Office (www.ipo.gov.
uk) and in Europe through OHIM, The
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal
Market (www.oami.europa.eu).
Other countries have their own
registration bodies for trademarks. There’s
$77,5(
an agreement called the Madrid Protocol
to which many countries have signed,
offering country to country cooperation and
recognition of national trade marks, making
it easier to enforce outside the UK. Visit
www.wipo.int for more information.
What is an unregistered trademark?
Basically it means that you haven’t officially
registered your trademark but you can
still use the TM sign ™ adjacent to your
company name and you may be able
to take legal action if someone uses it
without permission. This is called passing
off. But, this isn’t an easy route to pursue
so registration really is a better option.
Do not confuse registering your name
at Companies House with registering a
trademark. They’re totally different.
What can’t you register?
According to the Intellectual Property
Office, trademarks can’t be registered
if they:
• Describe your goods or services or any
characteristics of them, for example, marks
which show the quality, quantity, purpose,
value or geographical origin of your goods
or services
• Have become customary in your trade
• Aren’t distinctive
• Are three dimensional. If the shape is
typical of the goods you’re interested in (or
part of them), has a function or adds value
to the goods
• Are specially protected emblems
• Are offensive
• Are against the law, for example,
promoting illegal drugs; or;
• Are deceptive. There should be nothing
in the mark that would lead the public to
think that your goods and services have a
quality that they don’t.
ACID’s 10 top tips
1. IP strategy – ensure you include your
company trademark and brand protection
as a priority.
2. Guard your brand fiercely but choose
battles carefully. Never sue on principal,
only if there is a quantifiable loss and
a clear IP case to pursue. Publicise
any settlements in the trade press to
communicate a zero tolerance of IP
infringement. The trade press is a small
world and word soon gets out.
3. Territories – identify where you’re trading
and what are the risk factors? If your
trademark is infringed in another country,
where is your IP support? Have you
registered your trademarks in that country?
4. Registrations – create an IP portfolio of
your design and trademark registrations,
also including any patents you may have.
This is also very useful for raising funding/
investment or exit strategies.
5. Insurance – expensive but worth
considering if continuing infringement is a
significant issue.
6. ADR/mediation – it’s good to talk!
Consider alternative dispute resolution/
mediation as an alternative to litigations.
7. Invest in the right IP advice with IP
professionals and business advisors that
have hands-on trademark experience and
know your business and marketplace. Those
with demonstrable experience within your
sector will serve you well.
8. Arm yourself with knowledge – Be IP
aware! Watch competitors closely and
watch the marketplace.
9. Respect the rights of others – essential
within your own CSR.
10. Your brand – communicate internally
and externally the importance of everything
that sits under your brand. It’s others’
perception of you and your company that
matters most. $
For more information, visit
www.acid.uk.com.
SUBSCRIBE
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HPDLOQLQDDQGDODQ#IUHHXNFRPZHEHOL]DEHWKGLFNHQVYHLOVFRXN
WEBSITE
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$77,5(
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The Essential Collection is a bridal
trade show organised by the
publisher of the UK’s leading bridal
trade magazine, Attire Bridal. The
show takes place every July, hot on
the heels of the major European
bridal trade events.
Now firmly established and in its
fourth year, The Essential Collection
is a must-see event for everyone in
the bridal trade and will be your
first opportunity in the UK to see
many of the new 2015 collections.
You will be able to meet suppliers,
make new contacts and enjoy
your day in a thoroughly relaxing
environment.
The modern purpose-built
exhibition centre at Stoneleigh Park
is situated in the centre of England
and within easy reach of most UK
major cities.
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of visitors placed orders at the
show
of visitors thought the location
was right for them
of visitors liked the dates of the
show
of visitors thought the quality of
exhibitors was right for them
of visitors said they would be
back next year
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WHAT WILL YOU SEE?
The Essential Collection is an ideal event for
you to not only view the 2015 collections
from well-known and established companies
but also innovative designers not see at any
other exhibition.
Bridal fashions - Choose from great brands
You will be able to choose from some of
the best brands around for your brides. The
Essential Collection brings you a show with a
great range of dresses and styles to help you
to offer brides the dress of their dreams.
Prom - from major designers
As Prom grows in popularity, choose dresses
and menswear from some of the industry’s
top designers.
Bridal accessories – completing the look
Finish off that great look for your customers
with accessories from some of the best
designers around. The Essential Collection
brings you shoes, veils, jewellery, lingerie and
much more.
Plus… stunning catwalk shows and a full
seminar programme
Make sure you’re part of the essential buying
event of the year!
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Located in the heart of England within 100 miles of most of the UK’s major cities,
Stoneleigh Park is ideally placed to allow visitors to travel easily to the show.
8TIVaW]Z^Q[Q\
GETTING THERE
Address: Stoneleigh Park Exhibition and
Conference Centre, Warwickshire, CV8
2LG, UK
BY ROAD
All sat nav users should use CV8 2LG
From the North West: Leave the M6 at J2
following signs for Warwick (A46). After
joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit
signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow roadside
signage to the Stoneleigh Park showground.
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Magazines
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From the North: Leave the M1 and J21
following signs for Coventry (M69). At the end
of the M69, follow signs for Warwick. After
joining the A46 from the A45, take the exit
signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow roadside
signage to the Stoneleigh Park showground.
From the South: Leave the M40 at J15
following signs for Coventry (A46). After
approximately 8 miles on the A46, take
the exit signposted Stoneleigh NAC. Follow
roadside signage to the Stoneleigh Park
showground.
BY RAIL
Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick and
Warwick Parkway rail stations are situated
on the main London Marylebone Birmingham line whilst Coventry is a regular
stop for the Virgin West Coast mainline.
BY BUS/COACH
Coventry bus station is 6 miles (10 km) away
from Stoneleigh Park. Warwick bus station is
9 miles (14km) away.
BY TAXI
AA cars and minibuses are permanently
located at Stoneleigh Park and can be
contacted on +44 (0)1926 425252.
BY AIR
Stoneleigh Park is within a 30 minute drive
of Birmingham International Airport.
PARKING
Don’t forget there is unlimited free on-site
parking at Stoneleigh Park.
ACCOMMODATION
There are over 40 local hotels and guest
houses within easy reach of Stoneleigh Park.
A selection of which can be found through
www.booking.com, www.hotels.com
or www.laterooms.com.
REGISTER NOW
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Next issue
MAY/JUNE, 2014
www.fabledreams.com
Tress to impress
Occasion and everyday
hair accessories
Get crafty
A preview of Handmade in Britain
On the Pulse
Cutting edge
Looking ahead to Jewellery &
Watch London
What to expect from the London
design show
Plus:
• Brand new products
• Expert advice
• Industry news
Attire Accessories magazine
ISSUE 46
Available from: 28th April, 2014
Advertising deadline: 9th April, 2014
$77,5(
Give it some welly
The latest seasonal shower accessories
Sheer genius
Hot hosiery styles for 2014
www.bouton.co.uk
www.tanja-ufer.co.uk
Jurassic spark
Karli Dendy of Designosaur reveals the quirky
jewellery label’s plans for the future and why
she and co-founder, Jacques Keogh, chose
extinct creatures as their muse
What is the inspiration behind the
company and its products?
Designosaur is a new Brighton-based
jewellery company that creates striking and
original necklaces, rings and brooches from
materials such as acrylic and cherry wood.
The pieces appeal to the excitable, dinosaurloving child in all of us ‒ the collections
reflect our upbeat eccentricity as designers,
while retaining a sense of style, quality and
above all else, fun.
How was your initial collection developed?
We kind of naturally fell into jewellery
design. Jacques and I both have Product
Design degrees and he was doing an
internship where he was asked to design
some children’s mirrors. While at work, he
laser-cut this huge Brachiosaurus mirror
and brought it home to show me. I’ve
always had a weakness for big statement
acrylic jewellery, so when I held the
dinosaur against me I suggested that it
would make a great necklace. Of course,
we realised that at that scale, nobody else
would wear it but once we’d resized it,
Brian the Brachiosaurus became our firstever design. The label and dinosaur designs
just continued to develop from there.
Were there any problems when setting up
the business? If so, how did the company
overcome them?
$77,5(
We haven’t really had any problems, we’re
learning as we go. There were lots of
business things we didn’t know about at
the very beginning: tax, wholesale markups and lead times, but we’ve taken each
challenge as it’s come up and tried to keep
cool under pressure.
How would you describe your current
jewellery collection?
Our products are always fun and bright.
The best-seller from our autumn/winter
2013 collection is George ‒ the necklace
that goes with everything. He’s our
first collaboration with screen-printing
marvels hello DODO: a fun camouflaging
chameleon necklace. George’s made from
lightly tinted clear acrylic to blend in with
any choice of outfit, just like the real thing.
How often will the company be launching
new lines?
We launch products seasonally, but also
release other individual pieces in between
to stop customers ‒ and ourselves ‒
becoming bored with the designs. We’ll
soon be launching our spring/summer 2014
collection, which not only contains new
extinct animals, but is also inspired by our
trip to Japan last year. Expect something a
little different this time!
Is the collection aimed at a particular type
of retail outlet or consumer?
Our collections sit well in a variety
of places. Our current stockists
include museum shops, independent design
boutiques and quirky online retailers.
We love sharing our work with retailers
that have a sense of humour and want to
provide fun products to their customers.
We’re Brighton-based, use sustainable
wood and everything is currently laser
cut and hand assembled by us. I think
our retailers appreciate the quality of the
products and the time that’s gone into
making each piece.
“
We launch products
seasonally, but also release
other individual pieces in
between to stop customers
– and ourselves – becoming
bored with the designs.
”
Are you exhibiting at any trade fairs over
the coming months?
We exhibited at autumn/winter 2013’s
Top Drawer, which was great exposure for
us and led to us gaining a number of new
stockists. It was our first trade show and we
made some great contacts. We’re currently
looking into trade fairs for 2014, but don’t
have any concrete plans yet.
When did you launch the website and how
important is it to the business?
Our Etsy shop was the official launch of
Designosaur; we set it up in February 2012
when we moved from prototyping products
to getting our first official stockist. The
web shop is a vital part of our business;
it’s a place we can guide customers to and
provide excellent customer service when we
aren’t at events selling face-to-face. What are the long-term plans for the
Designosaur brand?
Obviously world domination is high on
the agenda, but more specifically we’ve
already started to work with new materials,
design new product ranges and expand
our customer base worldwide. We hope
to eventually build up Designosaur into a
household name! $
Contact
Designosaur
+44 (0)7939 447 479
www.designosauryeah.blogspot.co.uk
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6-3,(;/,9
/(5+)(.:
The GIGI collection can be viewed at the following venues
GEORGIAN HOUSE HOTEL
High Street, Haslemere GU27 2YJ
01428 656644
April 1st and 2nd 2014
ARNOS MANOR HOTEL
470 Bath Road, Brislington
Bristol, BS4 3HQ Tel: 0117 9711461
May 18th and 19th 2014
LIVERMEAD CLIFF HOTEL
Torbay Road, Sea Front, Torquay
Devon TQ2 6RQ TEL: 01803 299666
June 1st-3rd 2014
HOLIDAY INN (GLASGOW AIRPORT)
Abbotsinch, Paisley, Glasgow, PA3 2TR
Tel:0871 9429031
April 28th and 29th 2014
DERWENT ROOM
Pavilions Of Harrogate
Yorkshire Event Centre
Great Yorkshire Showground
Harrogate HG2 8NZ Tel: 01423 544544
May 27th-29th 2014
HAYDOCK PARK RACECOURSE
Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside
WA12 0HQ TEL: 01942 725963
23rd June 9am-8pm
24th June 2014 9am-4pm
BEST WESTERN
London Road, Colchester
CO6 1DU Tel: 08453731005
May 12th and 13th 2014
4(@-(09;9<52*647(5@
Orwell House, 1 Orwell Court, Hurricane Way, Wickford, Essex, SS11 8YJ
Tel: 0844 556 5530 / 07788560512 | Fax: 0844 556 5531 | [email protected]