gaukorg GIFTWARE

JENNY SPIVEY – HOW TO PITCH TO BIGGER RETAILERS

T 

WHEN: 16 MAY 
 
WHERE:  THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION OFFICES IN BIRMINGHAM 
 
The Giftware Association and former buyer and retail expert Jenny Spivey will be hosting a seminar on how to approach and pitch to larger retailers to help scale up your business.  
 
Following a 36- year career within two of the UK’s most prestigious department stores – Harrods and the John Lewis Partnership – Jenny now uses her knowledge and experience in running her own retail consultancy. As ‘Sense Of Retail‘, she works with both established retailers and suppliers across the home and giftware categories. She also mentors SMEs in the sector, including brands new to market – helping them reach a wider audience and present themselves effectively in a professional and competitive environment, online and offline. 
 
This is a presentation by Jenny Spivey to smaller businesses who are contemplating extending their business to larger retailers. Jenny will outline the opportunities and the challenges that they are likely to be presented with and what they need to do in their approach. It’s a reality check as to what potentially lies ahead. Networking Lunch and Q&A included 
 

To book your place on this event book use the above link or to arrange a 30-day invoice, please contact Simone on Simone.rose@ga-uk.org 

gaukorg GIFTWARE

THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION AT THE GREATS

The Giftware Association is once again proud sponsor of The Greats Awards, sponsoring The Honorary Achievement Award. Now in its 17th Year, The Greats Awards have become one of the most exciting and vibrant events in the gift and home industry.

The Giftware Association team would be delighted if you can join us as our guests for ‘The Greats Awards 2019’. PLEASE BOOK NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON THE GIFTWAE TABLE

The Greats celebrates not only the top independent and multiple gift retailers regionally and nationally, but also ‘one off’ niche retailers and garden centres, as well as outstanding retail employees
 
 The winners will be announced at a fabulous Walk On The Wild Side themed Greats Awards ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday May 15, 2019, in the Ballroom of the glittering Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane.
  
The UK gift and home industry is dynamic, innovative and vibrant and The Greats reflect all of this and much more. Be a part of it! The Greats Awards are owned and organised by Max Publishing and Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide.

T

gaukorg GIFTWARE

NEW EVENTS ADDED TO THE GA’S EDUCATION SEMINAR

The Giftware Association is pleased to announce its just added events to its education schedule. With events being held in our London office in Farringdon, making them easier for the companies who are based down South to get too.

HENRI DAVIS – THREE WAYS TO ENSURE YOUR BUSINESS IS FIT FOR THE FUTURE


The objective of this workshop will help you start this process, we will look at these 3 elements so you understand what this means for your business so you can go away and start to develop realistic plans to take you through 2019 and into 2020 and beyond.
If you are a small business owner thinking about the year ahead or someone in a bigger business company involved in business planning this workshop could suit you, stepping away from your business for a day to discuss your thoughts and share ideas allows you to be objective and see it from a different perspective.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

AN APPOINTMENT WITH JOHN LEWIS

Buyer: Sarah Allbright, Gifts and Candle Buyer The Giftware Association is incredibly excited to announce it is working with John Lewis to curate an event in London to bring buyers and supplier members together. An appointment with John Lewis will take place on the 2nd May in Farringdon, Central London.

LOUISE WELSBY – SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING


Instagram is the best way to reach your gift buying audience but it can be challenging managing the platform in house and growing your audience so that you can make a real difference on your ROI. Hosted By Louise Welsby from Buy From this 4 hour masterclass is designed for anyone who is looking to build their brand online – whether you are a solo entrepreneur or are looking to bring your social media in-house and want your team to feel empowered to take it on.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

NICOLE DAVIDSON – HOW TO SELL MORE AT WHOLESALE – JUST ADDED!

The Giftware Association has teamed up with Nicole Davidson to present a seminar on ‘How to sell more at Wholesale’. The event will take place in Farringdon, London on 10th May and will focus on helping businesses develop the skills to master wholesale selling. Nicole has worked with brands such as Top Shop, Next, Seasalt Cornwall and New Look.
 
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

DAVID GLENWRIGHT – SOCIAL MEDIA MASTERCLASS – JUST ADDED!
 The Giftware Association is excited to welcome back David Glenwright from JC Social Media for a seminar on 15 May to educate our members about strategies to generate leads and opportunities using their Social Media.

This session will look at developing content strategies, understanding the social landscape and the algorithms that power platforms, as well as how best to optimise personal LinkedIn profiles, and use them to generate new leads and opportunities.
FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

JENNY SPIVEY – HOW TO PITCH TO BIGGER RETAILERS

This is a presentation by Jenny Spivey to smaller businesses who are contemplating extending their business to larger retailers. Jenny will outline the opportunities and the challenges that they are likely to be presented with and what they need to do in their approach.  It’s a reality check as to what potentially lies ahead.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

STEPHEN SPENCER – BUILDING A FOCUSED AND RELEVANT BRAND – JUST ADDED!
 

The Giftware Association will be hosting an event with Stephen Spencer on helping your business create or refresh a relevant, focused and authentic brand. 

Branding is incredibly important to all businesses and will be the first thing that a potential customer will see or hear about you. Your brand is not just your logo, it’s the emotional experience behind your product or service.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

MEET THE BUYER – THE BRITISH SHOP –JUST ADDED
 

The Giftware Association is excited to announce our ‘Meet the Buyer’ event The British Shop 

This event will focus on giving you quality time to get your products to market.

The British Shop are on the lookout for the following products:

  • Gifts (seasonal, with British character)
  • Gardening (tools, textiles, bulbs)
  • Home Textiles (table cloth, bed linen)
  • Kitchenware (dish, tea towels, mugs, ceramic, useful tools non-electric)
  • Lifestyle (cushions, plaids, doormats, decoration, table lamps, small furniture)

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERS DAYThe Giftware Association will be hosting its Annual Members Day on the 18th June at the Nottinghamshire Golf Course. Expect a day of networking, education and sunshine as The giftware industry meets.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

AN APPOINTMENT WITH JOHN LEWIS – JUST ADDED!

Due to popular demand for the first event, The Giftware Association are adding an extra date to its appointment with John Lewis, this time with the cards, stationery andgiftwrap buyer. An appointment with John Lewis will take place on 28th June in Farringdon, Central London.

The event will be specially curated, with Lisa Rutherford looking for the following products – Cards, Giftwrap, Stationery Collections, Home Office Storage, Spring Seasons (Easter/Wedding). You will have 20 minutes of quality time with a buyer from John Lewis and will receive feedback on your products and ranges. 

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK

Please contact us directly on simone.rose@ga-uk.org  if you would like to talk about a group booking or would like to book onto multiple events and we can discuss a special rate

gaukorg GIFTWARE

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE 2019 STATIONERY AWARDS

Stationery Awards Logo

This week is the last chance for stationery suppliers and budding stationery designers to get their entries in for this year’s Stationery Awards which close this Friday, March 29.

The Supplier Awards are broken down into 11 product categories and a Good Design Award and are free to enter for any stationery supplier.  The entry form is online at www.stationeryawards.co.uk and a product sample must be mailed in for the judges to review along with the written entry.

The product judging panel this year includes Katy Golden, the new head of gift for The Great British Card Company, Debbie Wigglesworth, product development consultant of The Paper Collaborative, Sidonie Warren, co-founder of Papersmiths, Sarah Laker, proprietor of Stationery Supplies in Marple, Chris Lambert, founder of monthly art supplies subscription Scrawlrbox, Abigail Ball, assistant buyer stationery for Fenwick and Mark Hayhurst, editor of Craft Business. 

Once again independent retail consultant and deputy chair of The Giftware Association, Henri Davis, will guide and chair the panel.

It’s also the final week for any independent, freelance or student stationery designers to get their entries in for this year’s new ‘Stationery Designer of the Year’ category, sponsored by UK manufacturer GO Stationery.

“This Award is a great opportunity for a designer to work with an experienced team to see their ideas brought to life and sold into to the UK stationery market.  Who wouldn’t want to walk past a shelf with a display of your own designs on?!” commented event manager Hazel Fieldwick of Stationery Show London, which organises the Awards.

Designers need to submit no more than three A3 pieces of artwork, entitled ‘The next big thing’ which should feature their ideas for a new range of stationery designs covering a minimum of three separate items and a covering note.

Entry is free and must be done online via www.stationeryawards.co.uk. Physical samples may also be sent in for the judges to look at if the designer wishes – to arrive no later than Friday, 29 March 2019.

Finalists will be announced in the run-up to the Stationery Show at the end of April with the Winners revealed at an Awards Ceremony taking place on the first evening of the show, which runs over Tuesday and Wednesday, April 30-May 1, at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

Full details regarding delivery of samples etc is given on the entry form at www.stationeryawards.co.uk


ENDS

For further information please contact Vanessa Fortnam, Head of Content & PR, vanessa.fortnam@stationeryshow.co.uk

gaukorg GIFTWARE

UPCOMING MEET THE BUYER EVENTS

The Giftware Association is busy planning its series of Meet The Buyer events for 2019. The events have been a huge success in the past with hundreds of products on display from over 200 companies

Come and meet buyers in a more relaxed environment where you can showcase your products and get to met buyers from across the giftware industry.   Perfectly timed so as not to disrupt any major shows and a networking lunch included.

These events have been really popular with buyers and we have already worked with John Lewis, Ocado, TK Maxx, The National Gallery, Boots and many more.

MANTONS CARDS – 7TH MARCH 2019

The Giftware Association is pleased to announce it will again be working with Mantons Cards, the multi award-winning Port Erin store is the Isle of Man’s largest supplier of quality greeting cards and gifts.  Manton’s are particularly on the lookout for bath bombs and candles. The cost to attend this event is £50 + VAT.
CHOICE MARKETING AND SCOUT STORES – 7TH MARCH 2019

The Giftware Association is once again working with Choice Marketing and The Scout Store. Scout Stores are looking for Clothing, accessories, gifting, christmas and novelty items. Choice Marketing, who look after 39 independent garden centre’s are looking for new innovative niche suppliers and large brands reaching out for distributors. This event will cost £125+VAT

 

 

FIND ME A GIFT – 2ND MAY 2019
The Giftware Associations first event of the year will once again be working with Find Me A Gift, after their successful event last year. Find out more and what Find Me A Gift are looking for here. The cost to attend this event is £75 + VAT

 

THE BRITISH SHOP – 6TH JUNE 2019

The Giftware Association is very excited to be working with The British Shop. THE BRITISH SHOPis the largest online shop in Germany, featuring high-quality British fashion in the country style, typical English homewear, British perfume and popular British specialties. online. The British Shop is looking in particular for Gifts, Gardening equipment, Home Textiles, Kitchenware and lifestyle products.

The cost to attend the event is £85 + VAT

 

If you would like more information on how these events work or if you would like us to approach any retailers that you have on your target list then please get in touch with simone.rose@ga-uk.org.

Thank you

The Giftware Association Team