The Gift-Cast

Today we're joined by Alan Cheesley, founder of the marketing company Flow Online, a man with a very unique perspective on sales and marketing. Through his own experience and research Alan has honed in on the qualities that lay within a successful sales person and used this knowledge to create a business focused on delivering results through online marketing. Grab a pen and paper because we h...

In this episode we're joined by David Glenwright, Head of Training at JC Social Media. As a trainer, David is about as up-to-date as you can get across a variety of social media platforms, so we decided to try and extract as much of his Linkedin knowledge as we can, specifically for business-to-business use, and even more specifically, within the gift, retail and FMCG industry. David covers a...

In our second live recording from the wonderful London Stationery Show we were joined on the Retail Matters stage by someone who was introduced to us as the VOICE of independent stationers - owner of 'Stationery Supplies' in Marple and Wilmslow, Sarah Laker. In this episode we hear all about why Sarah feels so passionately about bricks and mortar, independent stationery shops and the wor...

This week on the Product-Cast we are joined by Evan Lewis, a social and environmental entrepreneur and owner of VENT for Change, a stationery supplier with ethical design and social responsibility at it's core. Recorded live on the 'Retail Matters' stage at London Stationery Show, we learn all about how Evan found himself so invested in ethical design over a decade prior to it'...

On the Prod-Cast this week, we have our very first returning guest! Courtney Wood the CEO of Bubblegum Stuff - a wonderful gift and game company based in London is making a return to talk to us about how they were able to use crowdfunding, more specifically the website Kickstarter to make the launch of their board game Plant Based Riot a huge success. If you're considering running your own cr...

This VERY exciting episode was recorded live on stage at the Inspiring Retail corner of the Autumn Fair. Our host, Alex Ryan was joined by Hyve's own Head of Content Suzanne Ellingham , and from The Giftware Association, MD Sarah Ward and Head of Marketing Chris Workman . We review day 1 of the show, discuss our highlights and 'must see stands', learn all about the changes that Hyve...

This week on the Product-Cast we're joined by the wonderful Helena Mansell-Stopher, founder and CEO of Products of Change, an organisation dedicated to building sustainable change in the licensing and consumer products industry through a collaborative approach from it's members who operate at every level of our trade. Join us for this fascinating insight and unique way of looking at the...

Welcome to episode 41 of The Product-Cast where we are joined by the wonderful Craig De Souza - regular panellist of The Gift Stop and founder of The Creative Industry Association - an organisation who supports the UK's thriving craft industry. Today we'll learn all about Craig's passion for this wonderful industry and the ways in which his organisation works to help businesses with...

In this, episode 40 of The Product-Cast we talk to a true legend of the industry - someone that has been championing the craft sector for over 30 years - Margeret Bunn. Join us as we learn all about Margeret's fascinating journey into the world of crafting before taking over The British Craft Fair, one of the highlights of the exhibition calendar. ----------------------- Welcome to the Produc...

Today we’re joined by the wonderful Faye Whitley, inventor and founder of Beevive and all round bee expert and activist! We first came across Faye and her product through the Gift of the Year awards where Faye was a finalist for multiple categories and made her mark by wearing a different outfit to each of the ceremonies! Beehive is a keyring that contains a lifesaving serum for tired bees. Learn...

In this episode we welcome Julie and Karin from Hyve Group, the company behind some of the world's biggest events and trade shows, including landmarks of the gift industry, Spring & Autumn Fair. Today however, we only lightly touch on those events as we were keen to focus on their brand new wholesale market place that launched in May. It's been a roaring success so far, and no surpri...

Today we welcome Stephen Spencer onto the Prod-Cast for a wonderful talk and some brilliant tips all about customer experience. Also a regular at The Gift Stop , Stephen has great insight into customer behaviours and how to treat them both online and in physical stores. We also learn all about Stephen's fascinating career prior to setting up his current business, including the launch of the f...

Recorded back in March 2020, today we welcome the wonderful Heather Watherstone, former MD of Lagoon Group and founder of Gift of the Year winner Whiz Kid Games. Hear about her journey through freelancing to joining Lagoon Group, growing that business over 2 decades before making the move to go it alone with Whiz Kid Games and their educational, environmentally friendly product offering.  --------...

In this episode we're joined by Catherine Edly, founder of the Resilient Retail Club. We learn all about the path Catherine took to end up launching her business (including some time spend living in the USA) and, of course, all about the RRC -  a group dedicated to the growth of product businesses, from start-ups to SMEs. We also discuss the significant change in buyer behaviours throughout t...

Today we're joined by the wonderful Louise Welsby, MD and Chief Motivator of creative agency Buy-From. We hear about Louise's fascinating career before Buy-From, the life-changing events that turned Louise in a new direction, and the way in which she has gone about setting up a business in which she is incredibly proud to work.   ------    Welcome to the Product-Cast, aka the Prod-Cast,...

Today we get creative with Design Pit and it's super-cool founder Gareth Robertson. With a unique perspective on the industry AND design, we learn about how Gareth ended up setting up  Design Pit, the wonders of packaging design, the importance of keeping a varied clientele, the key to happiness,  and I thoroughly enjoy hearing about his discomfort with the job title Creative Director that he...

In this episode we're joined by the truly wonderful Therese Oertenblad, owner of the Small Business Collaborative and super active member of our wonderful community. Therese originally worked on the retail side with businesses like NPW, Sweet William and Paperstyle Books before deciding to go it alone as a business consultant, coach and mentor. As a true champion  of small businesses Therese...

Today we meet a gentlemen on a very exciting journey - Greg Fraser, founder of The Bottled Baking Co. Whilst the business was first set up about 5 years ago, it's seen an incredible amount of growth in the last year, to the point at with Greg is now having to revisit the balance between his full-time day job and his baking business. We'll hear all about the struggles of work-life/work-li...

The Giving and Living trade show is a true staple of the gift industry's calendar and focal point for coastal and tourism products. In this episode we meet MD Mike Anderson to behind-the-scenes and learn all about the small team that deliver such an impactful event. We get the low-down on the upcoming online event (10-12th May), get a full overview of the usual, real world event (for those of...

Finally, we manage to grab an hour of the wonderful Jeremy Corner's time! Not only is he MD of Blue Eyed Sun (winner of 5, yes FIVE, Gift of the Year awards in 2021), but he also an Export Champion for the Department of International Trade, a member (and ex-chairman) of the Giftware Association's National Committee, and recipient of the Queens Award for International Trade which means he...

It's with HUGE relief that we begin to see the confirmation of various trade shows and exhibitions throughout the rest of 2021 and London Stationery Show was one of the very first to confirm their dates (5th-6th October '21). The show (the largest dedicated stationery show in the UK) is overseen by the Event Director, Alex Butler, who joins us on the show today. We learn about what Alex...

Winner of the coveted 'under £15' Gift of the Year award 2021, Craft & Crumb join us today on the Product-Cast! Louise Nicholson, proud co-founder, tells us all about her thrilling journey, starting with setting up shop with her business parter Kate back in 2016! With steady growth since and some fortuitous product development, Craft & Crumb were ready to pivot when the C19 pande...

Today we have the pleasure of learning about a business that functions quite differently from most in our industry. Gary Lancet, Managing Director of Thinking Gifts, joins us on the Prod-Cast direct from Thailand, and while this is not his usual place of business, he does run a global, online business with no one central office or hub. Instead, Gary recruits globally - the right person is the righ...

Warning - some adult language in this episode! Disclaimer - we've 'beeped' the most naughty words, but this may not be the episode for young ones! If you're anything like me, the above sentence has probably piqued your interest, and rightfully so! Our guest this week, in their own words, is 'smutty soap' designer and manufacturer Go La La! Having previously focussed o...

Founded in 2018 and having seen incredible growth and success since, we talk to the inspirational Christina Brand, founder of The Candle Brand and recent winner of several Gift of the Year awards; Home Fragrance, Bath Beauty & Spa and one of our 'new for 2020' awards, My Gift of All Time celebrating those flagship, hero products that all suppliers have. Learn about The Candle Brands...