Welcome to the May/June 2022 issue of Progressive Gifts & Home – a very special Awards edition – that’s not only buzzing with the very latest insightful news, views and new product launches, but also 13 pages featuring the winners of the inaugural The Gift Awards, as well as all the party fun on the night!
The much anticipated event saw both sides of our incredible industry – retail and product – recognised and rewarded at a glittering occasion, bringing everyone together as an industry, uniting The Greats Awards, (organised by Max Publishing), and the Gift of the Year Awards, (organised by The Giftware Association).
If you weren’t able to be there, click through to pages 20-23 to see our joyous party pics, and click through to pages 25-37 to see who this year’s winners are (if you don’t know already!).
But, of course, The Gift Awards aren’t the only reason that we’re on a high! The much-loved, dedicated greeting card show Progressive Greetings Live, organised by Max Exhibitions, will be opening its doors at London’s Business Design Centre on 7-8 June. With greeting cards an expanding sector for many gift shops, highlighted by Progressive Gift & Home’s Retail Barometer earlier this year, it’s going to be a ‘must visit’ for all strands of the retail spectrum stocking cards, with thousands of new launches at the heart of the show. Click through to pages 38-39.
Also back at the Business Design Centre next month (June 14-15) is Exclusively, the dedicated housewares show, with more gift-led products than ever. We take a look at what’s trending in kitchen and baking gifts, so click through to pages 47-49. And with weddings back on the agenda, we also highlight some of the coolest gifts for gift shops and their customers who are looking for that something different. Click through to pages 55-57.
Plus, we chat to Daniel Unworth, founder of Makasi Imports, which supplies high quality, driftwood-style wooden furniture and accessories, to see what’s trending, as well as what’s in the pipeline for the rest of the year. Click through to pages 42-43.
And while we love to share good news, inflation – the highest for 40 years – the cost of living squeeze, and the dreaded word ‘recession’ are all in play. So is it currently business as usual, or is the downturn in the economy starting to bite? We asked a cross-section of gift retailers for their views. Click through to pages 17-19 for some insightful comments. Plus, click through to pages 5-13 to discover all the most up-to-the-minute industry news.
To read the May/June issue of Progressive Gifts & Home click HERE
Enjoy the issue!
Sue Marks
Editor
Progressive Gifts & Home/ GiftsandHome.net
Top: Progressive Gifts & Home May/June, a Gift Awards special edition, is out now!
