retailer spotlight: the handpicked collection
cent of our customers are men who seem to really appreciate the simplicity and convenience of our service.”
She says of the product selection, “We aim to offer products for anyone our customers need to buy for, whether it be a god-child, grand-parent, sibling or best friend, so the range is wide. We have leather goods, toys, jewellery, cashmere, gadgets, special interest gifts for wine, sport, cooking and gardening, pampering gifts, home gifts and things you can personalise. Our product selection criterion requires that we source products chosen for their originality, charm, quality and value. Customers should feel excited they have found a great gift, and the recipient should feel a
requires that we source products chosen for their originality, charm, quality and value. Customers should feel excited they have found a great gift, and the recipient should feel a lot of thought and time has gone into choosing it
“
panel then give their reviews of the products, covering categories such as the ‘special factor’ and whether they are value for money, both of which Jo says are key to the Handpicked brand. “Something might be a fantastic product, but if the price seems too high, we won’t feature it. Equally when I am first considering a product I always ask myself ‘what makes this special?’ and ‘to whom would I give this?’ If I cannot answer those questions, a product will go no further.” It is this approach that makes the business stand out, and means that the team utilises many avenues of sourcing in addition to the trade shows. In addition to the panel, a linked blog adds a real personal element to the shopping experience, noting trends, new products, and generally interesting observations! Jo’s love of the quirky and stylish is clear throughout the Handpicked brand. Visitors can browse gifts by person (Him, Her, Sister, Brother, Man Who has Everything, Woman who has More), age group (with categories from 0-18 months to The Golden Years), interest (I love the Get Me Out of Trouble category) and price. For women there are cashmere socks, Cath Kidston luggage, the Design Your Own Shoes (this lady really knows
her customer!), not to mention a host of beautiful jewellery and home accessories.
The selection for men includes a Vinyl Record Clock, books on cars, stylish drinkware, a Natural Slate Cheeseboard, a Bespoke Suit, a telescope and lots of science and sport-related curios. Then there’s the practical gifts, like the Saucepan Clip that attaches the utensil to the pan, colour-coded Index Chopping Boards by Joseph Joseph, Silver-Plated Ice Bucket, Wine Cooler and Water Pitcher. For children, gifts range from the nostalgic to the quirky, but all with traditional play at the heart; there are Explorer and Baking kits, pocket kites, a clown Tooth Brush Timer, Paint Your Own Umbrella, a Flower Press, and games such as Boules, Badminton and Croquet. Across the collection there is a reassuring absence of anything tacky or novelty. “I adore things that are both practical and lovely, and I aim to avoid the 60-second Christmas Day wonders that stay at the back of a cupboard,” explains Jo. She says that the range attracts a variety of shoppers, from the low earners looking for a treat, to the wealthier customers that appreciate good value. “The biggest group of our customers are women aged 34 - 45, but 35 per
Gifts & Housewares 15 Jo McGivern, Handpicked ”
lot of thought and time has gone into choosing it.”
It is a range that has gained Handpicked great reviews, from both customers and shopping experts. The company won the Sheerluxe 2010 Shopping Award for the Best Online Gift Store and, having added the Feefo feedback system to the site, has received customer satisfaction ratings of 98 per cent on both product and service. Jo says these achievements have been the highlights since launching Handpicked, “It has been great for all the team to hear such wonderful feedback from the most important people to us – our customers.” They are particularly rewarding as having begun the venture into retail three years ago, a lot of Jo’s experiences have been
Our product selection criterion
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