GA news


Gift of the Year companies beat shortened deadline


Although the entry deadline for Gift of the Year 2011 was brought forward by fi ve months, the number of products submitted by suppliers for judging was almost at the same level as for the 2010 competition. The date change was the result of a renewed collaboration between The Giftware Association and new headline sponsor Emap Connect. It means that the awards will now occupy the industry’s biggest stage, with the winning and highly commended entries announced at a special ceremony at Spring Fair International on the Sunday evening (February 6). From the opening of the show - and over the


following fi ve days - all of these products can be viewed at the Gift of the Year Showcase, garden and retail lounge in Hall 3 and The Trend House in Hall 10. In response to numerous requests from companies - and after consultation with the retail judges - the


entry deadline was extended by nine days to December 9 last.


Says Isabel Martinson (pictured), The GA’s chief executive: “Given that companies had to contend with the time-frame change as well as being subjected to all sorts of other pressures towards the end of the year, we were delighted with the number of products that were up for judging. It augurs well for the future of Gift of the Year. “Those who are successful in the 2011 competition will have their products seen by thousands of buyers who visit their stands and also view them at The GA’s Gift of the Year Showcase and The Trend House. “This will not only enable these suppliers to maximise their sales opportunities at the UK’s greatest gift and home event, but give them a springboard for the rest of the year.”


The GA keeps customers satisfi ed


The Giftware Association’s latest survey of the home and gift industry has revealed that 92.2% of respondents would recommend The GA to other people.


Says chief executive Isabel Martinson: “This is a slight but very pleasing improvement on the fi gure achieved in the 2008 survey for our performance. It is important that we are able to benchmark ourselves in this way and for our members to see that they are part of a progressive organisation.” Apart from gauging the industry’s perception of The GA, the survey set out to identify what is important to suppliers and retailers to enable the association to represent their views more accurately and provide the appropriate services. The questionnaire was emailed by Emap to around 3,000 exhibitors and 10,000 retailers and by Clarion to some 2,000 retailers.


The survey also shows that there is an overall satisfaction level of 85.1% with the service provided by The GA. Its supplier members most value the trade fair discounts that membership brings and the information issued by the association, followed by various other money-saving services. The credibility that results from belonging to The GA and the confi dential support that it gives are also highly regarded. Retailer members most value the savings they are able to make on credit card processing; the credibility gained from membership; information received from The GA; confi dential support; free trade magazines; other money saving services; a sense of belonging to the industry community, and access to the VIP lounges at trade fairs.


28 gifts today


New membership drive and a revamped website


Under the leadership of new chairman Michael Sweeney (pictured), The Giftware Association has set its strategic priorities for the next two years. This follows a recent National Committee meeting in Birmingham which, according to chief executive Isabel Martinson, “resulted in more ideas that we have resources to deal with in one go”.


A new membership drive by The GA will break down the gift and home industry segment by segment, delivering tailored messages to each. There will be separate targeting of bricks and mortar retailers; those with one shop; multiple retailers; department stores and e-tailers. Suppliers will also be contacted in this way - from sole traders and partnerships to wholesalers/distributors and individual craftworkers/designers - and, within these, start-ups; companies new to the gift and home market; those under three years old, and established companies. There will be a particular concentration on the recruitment of new-to-market


retailers and smaller suppliers, and starter packs will be issued to newcomers to the industry who join The Giftware Association. The GA’s website will be refreshed and revamped to make it even more user- friendly for both retailers and suppliers.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134