2025 will be the first time in five years that Joe Davies has exhibited at Christmas & Gift. Sarah Welsh spoke to Sales Director David Cree ahead of the show…
Why did the business choose to step away from the show for a couple of years and what are you most looking forward to about returning?
We are really excited to be returning. We have wanted to go back to the show for a while but we wanted to make sure that we get the stand that we really wanted. As the show is so popular that took some time! The show is the best place to meet Christmas specific buyers and to help to put to bed a really key category before Spring Fair.
Harrogate is often described as the boutique Christmas retail event, famed for its relaxed atmosphere – why do you think it’s such a popular show with exhibitors and buyers alike?
I think there’s several reasons why Harrogate is so popular. I certainly think the location helps – who doesn’t like Harrogate! The timing is also perfect. Buyers have all their figures to hand and the memory of Christmas sales are fresh in their minds. As an exhibitor it is the perfect start to the year. It allows us to fine tune our Christmas ranges prior to Spring Fair and it means we can get an early guide as to 2025’s key winners
“I think there’s several reasons why Harrogate is so popular. I certainly think the location helps – who doesn’t like Harrogate! The timing is also perfect”
How big a show stand will you have for 2025 and how many new product ranges will you be showcasing?
Our stand will be roughly double the size of our previous stand at the Harrogate Christmas fair – demonstrating the importance of Christmas to both us and the gift sector. We will be presenting over 500 new items across a number of collections at the fair. Highlights include brand new Christmas jewellery from our best-selling Equilibrium collection and hundreds of new Joe Davies branded items. As the UK’s largest distributor of the Leonardo Collection from Lesser & Pavey in small quantities we will also be showing their Christmas range.
Will you also be taking gift ranges to the show?
Fourth quarter sales are not just about festive products and we have a huge range of gift lines that sell particularly well in this key season. We will be presenting many at the fair
Highlights include our best-selling snoozies!® collection. Snoozies!® are not socks and they’re not slippers – they’re a crossover between the two and that’s why we call them ‘foot coverings.’ They sell fantastically well – indeed we have sold enough snoozies!® for one in every 20 women in the UK to own a pair! Our collection will be on show at the fair.
We will also be exhibiting our exclusive Madd Capp Jigsaws collection – launched this year they are the ideal Christmas gift. Amongst other highlights are our range of boxed Equilibrium accessories. Bang on trend and beautifully presented, this exciting range of hats, scarves and gloves are a tremendous present for men and women as well being a great self-purchase.
Sales of our Nuzzles slipper socks reached at an all-time high in 2024 and 2025 looks set to be even better! We have Nuzzles for ladies, men and kids with designs suitable for all ages and tastes! With retail prices starting at just £4.99 for toddlers Nuzzles they are an ideal Christmas stocking filler.
What product trends do you think will be big for Christmas 2025?
Highland Coos are definitely having their moment and their popularity looks set to continue into 2025. We have a number of new coos to help make the most of this growing trend. Light-up decorations are getting bigger every year and we have lots of new additions to the collection. As people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, more practical and useful gifts like frames and kitchenware will be high on customers shopping lists as well. Snowmen, Santas and reindeers are perennially popular and we have lots of new pieces debuting at the fair.
For more information visit: www.joedavies.co.uk
