Workplace gifting start-up Thankbox is marking Mental Health Awareness Week by donating 20 percent of each sale to Mental Health UK throughout May, to help people suffering from a range of issues such as depression and anxiety.
The Edinburgh-based online card and cash collection service, which marks its fourth anniversary this month, said it was prompted to make the gesture after research revealed an explosion of people suffering from social isolation and loneliness as a result of remote working.
The company, founded and run by husband-and-wife team Valentin and Tsvetelina Hinov, is partnering with Mental Health UK and has pledged to donate funds worth a fifth of every sale made.
Posted: 15 May 2024
Autumn Fair, retail's leading seasonal showcase for the home, gift and fashion industries, has announced an exclusive partnership with Faire, Europe's leading wholesale marketplace.
Faire will help hundreds of exhibiting brands take orders on its platform from retailers attending the show. This collaboration will bridge online and offline wholesale for the first time in the UK and simplify the buying process for up to 20,000 independent retailers.
Retailers at Autumn Fair will gain access to Faire's extensive global network of brands, helping them to discover products, streamline their buying process and benefit from 60-day payment terms available on Faire. Faire will also be offering new retailers a 50 percent discount on their first order to help them easily shop at the show and beyond.
Posted: 3 May 2024
ACID CEO Dids MacDonald has been recognised on the Women in Trades Association Powerlist 2024.
The Trade Association Forum (TAF), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) joined forces to champion the role of women in trade associations and celebrate their achievements.
TAF, FSB and CBI are led by strong female champions and are supported in their respective organisations by brilliant women at all stages of their careers.
In a joint statement they said: "It is our shared ambition to support our own staff and other inspirational women in trade associations to be powerful advocates for diversity and inclusion in their sectors and more widely to support and encourage female business leaders and entrepreneurs."
Posted: 2 May 2024
Owen Barry has recently launched a wholesale website.
The company has designed the trade site exclusively for its valued customers, making it easy and convenient to use anywhere and anytime.
Once signed up, you will be able to see offers, new season collections, new colours, prices, real stock availability, forward ordering, tracking orders, and overall ease of use.
Showcasing sheepskin, leather and cowhide interiors, handbags, outerwear, and accessories.
Owen Barry Ltd, is a renowned manufacturer based in Street, Somerset, celebrating 75 years of heritage, craftsmanship, and commitment to sustainable practices.
Founded by Owen Barry in 1948, the company has remained a beacon of quality and tradition in the sheepskin, leather, and cowhide industry.
Posted: 1 May 2024
Autumn Fair has announced the launch of a New Business Pavilion designed to support small businesses and the next generation of makers and creators, helping put their products on the map.
100 New Business Pavilion ready-to-exhibit entry level price packages are available and include space at both Autumn Fair taking place from 1st – 4th September 2024 at NEC Birmingham, and Spring Fair from 2nd – 5th February 2025.
As the indispensable destinations for buyers to explore a wealth of new and captivating products from the most coveted brands in retail, the packages have been curated to give retail's future leaders a chance to reach a new marketplace, learn from seasoned businesses, and be part of the future of retail with Spring & Autumn Fair.
Posted: 24 April 2024
Following feedback from exhibitors that too many companies are attending shows to sell to both exhibitors and visitors without exhibiting, Natural & Organic Products Expo (NOPEX), held at ExCeL London yesterday on 14-15 April, has taken decisive action, which, according to the organisers, Diversified Communications, has led to a significantly improved event.
The presence of companies selling their services to stand holders, who have invested significant sums in attending, and setting up camp in cafes and shared areas, has become a growing problem for organisers, with increasing numbers of exhibitors stating this as a reason for not attending trade shows and others saying, they will attend as visitors instead of exhibiting.
Posted: 17 April 2024
Wholesale marketplace Faire has facilitated 400,000 product orders from 50,000 retailers across the UK since its launch in the market just three years ago. Since 2021, Faire has helped establish 200,000 new relationships between British brands and retailers. The platform, which connects independent retailers with unique and exciting independent brands, now has a retail customer base that totals four times the number of stores across the UK's four largest supermarket chains combined. Jeff Kolovson, co-founder and COO of Faire, said: "It's been a phenomenal three years for Faire in the UK.
Posted: 9 April 2024
A start-up business based in Wales is the first company to use the OPRL 'Recycle' label for seaweed-based packaging.
PlantSea's packaging comes in a range of weights and can be used to replace paper and card to make stationery, boxes and bags. Manufactured from seaweed-derived fibres blended with recycled and virgin paper fibres, it's been tested under the CEPI v2 protocol and shown to be suitable for recycling through a standard paper mill.
Alice Harlock, Director of Technical and Member Services at OPRL, said: "It's always exciting to see innovation and the successful application of novel materials in packaging. As businesses look to adapt or replace current packaging types to meet sustainability goals or legislation, OPRL is keen to support them with labelling."
Posted: 2 April 2024
Bulldog Licensing, the leading licensing agency which represents Popeye in the UK on behalf of brand owner King Features Syndicate, has announced a new deal for the iconic brand with Skinnydip, a renowned supplier of fun and quirky accessories, clothing and lifestyle products.
The deal comes in the year Popeye celebrates 95 successful years.
Recently launched on the Skinnydip site is the Popeye x Skinnydip London collab featuring the original classic Popeye and girlfriend Olive Oyl, and (of course) Popeye's trusty can of spinach on cases ready to adorn iPhones across the UK.
Much more is on the way; this agreement extends to apparel, accessories, gifts, stationery, and health & beauty products.
Posted: 25 March 2024
Despite a festive spending slowdown, the GCVA, in collaboration with Global Data, reveals a compelling shift in shopping habits during the holiday season.
Their nationally representative survey of 2,000 consumers indicates that over 20 million gift cards were exchanged during Christmas 2023, with nearly a third (31 percent) of respondents receiving one.
Interestingly, almost a quarter (24 percent) of those surveyed received more gift cards than in previous years.
Younger generations emerged as the primary recipients, with an astonishing 50 percent of those aged 16-24 unwrapping the gift of a gift card, compared to 18 percent among the 55-64 age group.
The research also showed diverse reasons why gift cards are a popular choice.
Posted: 18 March 2024
