NEWS
Wesson appointed to Gemma CEO
Gemma International has announced the appointment of former Celebrations Exhibition NEWNEWSS
commercial director, David Wesson to the newly created role of chief operating officer.
The move, which was announced at Spring Fair, caps a turbulent few months for
Visitors to the 2009 Stationery & Office Products
both Wesson and those publishers caught up in the collapse of the Celebrations chain.
Show (SOPX) in London in April can now access the
Gemma’s announcement states the company is now embarking on a new strategic
show website for details of new exhibitors and the
approach to publishing for 2009 claiming: “Which will see it set its course to become
dedicated area for suppliers of personal and social
the very best in design, innovation and service to the retail industry in the UK.”
stationery.
Wesson has over 15 years experience in retail, both in the entertainment sector at
Dealers and retailers wanting to visit the exhibition
Virgin Megastores, where he was trading director and latterly as commercial director in the greetings sector
can register online in advance for free entry by visiting
at Celebrations.
www.sopx.co.uk
David Wesson says: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Gemma at this exciting time, to be able to
“The Retail Stationery Zone is a natural
bring my experience as a retailer to develop, within the business, a true alignment of our thinking with our
extension to SOPX, and sits alongside the main
customers’ requirements and to deliver these with excellence, day in day out. Gemma has a strong heritage
event which already attracts buyers from leading
and fantastic product design capability, both in license and own brand.”
independents and multiples from a wide range of
retail sectors including Ryman, WHSmith, Staples,
Woolworths, Selfridges, Colemans, Paperchase,
Clarkes Stationers, Office Club, Makro and Osborne
Young takes over from Jackson at Emap
Stationers” says event director Chris Leonard-
Morgan.
Connect The 2009 Stationery & Office Products show will
Emap Connect has announced the appointment of Louise Young to Managing Director of
be held at the Business Design Centre in London on
its Home & Gift exhibition portfolio – comprised of Spring Fair International and Autumn
Tuesday 7 – Wednesday 8 April.
Fair International – with effect from 1st March.
Young, aged 42, has over 20 years experience within exhibitions, operating across
This year’s Surtex show in New York will be
a wide range of retail exhibitions. For the last two years, she has worked as deputy to
located on the main level of the Jacob K. Javits
previous Managing Director, Alison Jackson, and has focused her efforts on strategy and running Autumn
Convention Center, Level 3, directly adjacent to the
Fair and the greetings, home and kitchen sections at Spring Fair International. Prior to this, she was
National Stationery Show® (NSS) and closer to the
responsible for building Pure into the UK’s leading trade fashion exhibition.
International Contemporary Furniture Fair® (ICFF)
than in past years.
“We’re excited about the benefits of the new
Advanstar
location,” says Penny Sikalis, show manager.
“Especially in terms of convenience and ease of
Advanstar Communications has appointed Humaira Kaiser as marketing manager navigation. Artists will have a more licensees right at
for Brand Licensing Europe, the leading event in Europe for the licensing industry. hand, and retail buyers will have the ease of walking
Humaira joins Advanstar with a proven background in exhibition marketing, across the aisle to look at fresh designs,” Sikalis
including roles at CMP on one of its flagship brands, IFSEC. notes.
“SURTEX is traditionally a dynamic meeting
Grassroots International
ground for designers and licensees,” Sikalis adds,
“and the new location promises to make this year’s
Doug Morrice has been made sales director at Grassroots International having
show even more accessible and synergistic than ever
previously been director of sales. The change in title represents Morrice’s appointment
before.”
as a director of the company, after seven years with Grass Roots and 30 years
Set for May 17 -19, the 2009 show will feature
experience in the industry.
extended hours, and will be open from 9am to 6pm
on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Pigment
DIARY DATES
Pigment is delighted to welcome a newcomer to the greeting card fold: Debbie Knibbs joins the
Show: Pulse
Date: 31 May-2 June 2009
Pigment team as sales representative in the East Anglia and East Midlands areas. Although new to
Venue: Earls Court, London
cards, she is a regular consumer and is excited at being part of the greeting card family. Website: www.pulse-london.com
Show: Home & Gift, Harrogate
Rainbow Designs
Date: 19-22 July 2009
Venue: Harrogate
The name behind classics such as Paddington Bear, Miffy and the Beatrix Potter
Website: www.homeandgift.co.uk
characters is ringing in the New Year with the appointment of a new marketing
Show: Autumn Fair
assistant, Rowann Blair on board to oversee its growing brand and trade marketing
Date: 6 - 9 September 2009
requirements.
Venue: NEC, Birmingham
Further recruitment has also taken place at Rainbow’s Fareham warehouse where Nicki Davidson
Website: www.autumnfair.com
joins the team as a key accounts co-ordinator. She brings with her a wealth of sales experience
Show: Top Drawer Autumn
including running her own computer retail business for seven years. Becky Maynard is Rainbow’s new Date: 13-15 September 2009
sales administrator and is a graduate in film and entertainment technology from Portsmouth University.
Venue: Olympia, London
Website: www.topdrawerautumn.com
12 Greetings Today
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