A decade on from the first John Lewis How We Shop, Live and Look report, which looks back at the products and trends that shaped the year, we are a nation that has fallen out of love with DVD players and fidget spinners and gained a burgeoning obsession with air fryers and pizza ovens.
Over the last 12 months, we've seen customers return to shops, especially on Saturdays for a family day out where footfall is up 11 percent.
During the height of lockdowns, 81 percent of our sales came via the internet, this has fallen back to 57 percent with many dwelling in stores and hospitality and catering sales up 20 percent versus last year.
Posted: 1 December 2023
Kite Packaging, a leading UK supplier of innovative and eco-friendly packaging, has added a brand new range of bubble mailers to its offering.
Available in twelve sizes in gold or white, this comprehensive range caters to the diverse packaging needs of any business and is particularly great for those with a large product profile.
Kite mailers comply with Royal Mail's PiP guidelines and can help businesses calculate and regulate their shipping costs to avoid any surprises.
Air-filled bubbles also keep overall package weights to a minimum whilst providing an effective, shock-absorbing barrier which cushions and minimises the risk of damage occurring during handling or transit.
Posted: 17 November 2023
Thousands of knitters and stitchers are counting down until The Knitting & Stitching Show opens its doors at the Harrogate Convention Centre, 16th-19th November. Whether you're a newbie or an accomplished stitch expert, this popular annual textiles celebration has something for everyone. Want to start a new craft project or learn a new skill? The Knitting & Stitching Show's Learning Curve studios offer hundreds of workshops, all hosted by top tutors. A packed programme of daily classes covers every textile craft imaginable, from macrame, crochet and embroidery to Fair Isle knitting, post box toppers and jewellery making. Fans of Christmas crafting and handmade gifts will find fun, seasonal workshops to try, like needle felt gnomes, crochet beanie hats, macrame plant hangers, quilted purses, and beaded decorations.
Posted: 9 November 2023
Avenue Mandarine, part of the Exacompta Clairefontaine Group has launched a new character to its popular range of 'Little Couz-IN' kits, with the addition of Noah the Penguin. Little Couz-IN kits are CE marked and suitable for children of 6 years and over, having been developed to engage youngsters in crafting activities, whilst introducing them to the joys of sewing. The kits act as an easy all-in-one sewing initiation to the craft of haberdashery, with each containing pre-holed felt and fabric pieces, adhesive felt sections, wadding, a plastic needle, 3-4 spools of thread and a set of step-by-step instructions.
Posted: 30 October 2023
Where The Trade Buys (WTTB) is getting into the seasonal spirit early, with a special deal on one of its most popular products. WTTB offers a huge range of festive items, all of which can be personalised to add an individual flavour – perfect for anyone wanting to reward customers or promote their brands. As a leading UK print provider, WTTB work with thousands of trade print professionals and creatives, providing tools and support to make their businesses thrive.
Posted: 10 October 2023
The Source is where the region's food and drink buyers come to shop. From delicious speciality foods and locally produced drinks to major, market-leading brands and artisan produce to suit every taste, The Source is here to inspire retail choices, great hospitality, and facilitate profitable catering. In partnership with regional food group Taste of the West, this trade show will delight your senses with the latest flavours and ideas. New to the show in 2024 are companies such as Kin Vodka, House of Sarunds and Sloe Motion, who will be exhibiting alongside more familiar names such as Forest Produce, Denhay Farms, Frobishers, The Real Olive Company, and Friary Liqueurs.
Posted: 6 October 2023
Thousands of retailers including Sainsbury's, Next, Dunelm, Boots, Ocado, Waterstone's, Osprey London, Brand Alley, Tropic Skincare, Scribbler, Clintons, Oliver Bonas, Fenwick Ltd, Cardzone, Lakeland, M&S, Matalan, Pengethley Garden Centre, Aldi, Tesco, TJX Europe, Toys R Us, The Works, WHSMITH, and The Walt Disney Company,to name a few, converged at the NEC Birmingham from the 3rd – 6th September to shop the show for their next bestsellers across a huge breadth of product categories within Home, Gift and Fashion. Many enjoyed special features including the New Product Showcase and the Gift Of The Year Showcase which took centre stage in Hall 6 as well as an insightful and visual content programme on the Inspiring Retail Stage & Moda Catwalk.
Posted: 11 September 2023
Plans for CHSI Stitches, the UK's trade show for the creative craft industry, are well underway for 25-26th February 2024 at the NEC, Birmingham. This year the experienced event organisers, ICHF Events, have announced an extended partnership with Sarah Hurley from the Sarah Hurley Academy. The multi-year partnership brings creative business education to the CHSI Stitches programme of events through Sarah's new 'Sarah Hurley Academy,' launched in 2022
Posted: 7 September 2023
Retailers are in for a treat this September, as Top Drawer prepares to open the doors to its biggest collection of new and exclusive brands to ever attend the A/W show. Over 35% of the exhibitors will be making their show debut this season, bringing both a dynamic new energy and a wealth of exciting products to Olympia London; from cutting-edge technology to one-of-a-kind crafts and artisanal goods, there's something for everyone to discover - here are just a few of the new names that visitors will be able to meet:
Posted: 7 September 2023
Drawing buyers from across the UK, Ireland and across the globe, the leading wholesale marketplace for home, gift and fashion, Autumn Fair opened Sunday with a spectacle of newness and source of inspiration from over 500 exhibitors. Buyers from Homebase, Graham & Green, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Card Shop, Mothercare, Paper Tiger, The Olive Branch, Wilkies, John Lewis & Partners, Mooch, The Cotswold Shop, Ashwood Nurseries, and many more flocked to the show enjoying a host of special features including the New Product Showcase, Connect Buyers Lounges, and captivating fashion brought to life on the Moda Catwalk.
Posted: 4 September 2023
