message from the editor...
R
ight, let’s get this over with. This issue Of course you have. As we all
of Party Party comes with a bonus know, back in late November,
free gift – although whether it’s one Woolworths’ executive board
you’ll want or not is another issue met and made the formal
entirely. Unfortunately for all of you, the free gift decision to enter administration.
is a nightmare-inducing life-sized mask – of Once the news fi ltered through shockwaves were
my face. And as you can see from my leader felt throughout the entire retail community, as the
picture, I’m pretty delighted about the concept. collapse of this ailing chain led to the closure of
Thanks Rob, for modelling the mask with me. hundreds of stores across the UK, with the last With 815
And for suggesting the idea in the fi rst place. stores closing their doors for the fi nal time on
Anyway, murderous thoughts aside, as marketing January 6th. The company had been struggling
Woolworths
campaigns go it’s a fairly eye-catching one. Turn with £385m of debt, and at the end was paying
your mask over and you’ll see that the guys at suppliers in cash, because trade credit insurers
Mask-arade have even more evil plans afoot, with were no longer prepared to insure its supplies. stores now
a competition to see who can send in the best But as sad as Woolworths’ closure may be,
and strangest ‘Jacqui’ photos. There’s a prize and will it really be missed? Other than as a news
missing
everything – although I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t item, or as another indicator of the current
concerned about what we might see when the fi nancial situation, I haven’t heard a single person
results get published… lament the store’s demise. Perhaps retail really from the UK
In other, more sensible, news we have even has evolved to the point that Woolies was left
more trade show information for you this issue. behind as nothing more than an affectionate
high streets,
Apart from the Spring Fair preview, which begins afterthought. It’s been a few months since then,
on page 22, you can turn to the industry news Christmas has come and gone, and a number
pages for the latest on the BCA-supported IPS of other stores, both large and small, have fallen there’s a lot
show, due to take place at the end of March. We victim to the global economic downturn – even
don’t yet know who is defi nitely exhibiting at the though retailers did all they could throughout
of potential
fair, but will have a full preview for you in the next December to keep the money coming in, raising
issue, assuming everything is organised in time! pre-Christmas discounts to unprecedented levels.
The ICE costume show is still being worked on But this was all to no avail, as consumers refused new business
as well, and with a great deal of industry support to change their mindsets – and according to the
behind it, it will be interesting to see how these British Retail Consortium we have just seen our
out there, just
two develop alongside each other. ICE is expected worst December in the past 14 years. Although
to take place in the second half of the year, giving it feels somewhat selfi sh as thousands of people
exhibitors a chance to show new products and across the country are now on the search for new ready for the
ranges they hadn’t been touting at Spring Fair a jobs, we must look at what this means for the
few weeks before. party industry, particularly independent stores.
taking...
Since the last issue Party Party has also After all, Woolworths stocked a lot of ‘party’
attended the most recent NABAS festival of items – balloons, tableware, décor, accessories
balloon art. It was my fi rst one, and I really enjoyed and children’s dress-up. And with 815 stores now
it. A smaller trade show, it was fun and friendly, missing from the UK high streets, there’s a lot of
with the seminars and workshops particularly potential new business out there, just ready for
popular, and people really looking forward to next the taking…
year. Unfortunately though, as you can read on So, until March, that’s it from me. I hope you
page 38, NABAS has decided to cancel the show enjoy this issue – its got features on children’s
for 2009, although it will be back in 2010. I think dress-up, the NABAS show, fi reworks and a
it’s a real shame, as it’s more important now then comprehensive Spring Fair show preview to help
ever that people can have a point of difference you plan your visit to the UKs largest retail trade
from their competitor, and the NABAS-run show. Please feel free to get in touch if there’s
workshops provided this in spades. anything you’d like to comment on – and here’s to
Talking of the current climate, have you heard a great 2009!
the one about one of the UK’s best-known and
oldest store groups going into administration?
Jacqui
Editor
Party Party
Leader 3
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