Attire Accessories - May/Jun 2019 (Issue 76)

PROFILE 59 and fashion accessories, from snoozies!® foot-coverings, brands like Equilibrium Jewellery, the famous Leonardo collection from Lessor & Pavey (Joe Davies is the UK’s number one distributor of Leonardo) to its own well-known Shudehill Giftware collection. Any classics that have stood the test of time? With today’s fast moving and ever-changing design-led demand from customers, there is little that really stands the test of time over a number of years. Joe Davies has to be at the leading edge of product innovation, launching more than 2,500 brand new lines every season. That said, life’s special events, such as wedding and anniversary product, do seem to have more longevity, in particular baby Silver Plate items and frames. Which collections are you excited about? With so many great new ranges just launched at the NEC, it’s hard to pick a favourite – we are very excited about the new Sunny by Sue glassware additions for this year, our new Pairables snoozies collection is set to be one of our strongest-ever concepts for the busy season, and Equilibrium goes from strength to strength. Our Shudehill Home brand is looking very strong with wooden clip frames and a tribal animal design that really makes a splash, but that’s just the tip of a super product range. How many generations have been involved in running the business? Steve Davies is the managing director of Joe Davies and belongs to the fourth generation. What values are important to Joe Davies? Outstanding service, fair competitive prices and attention to the little things that make the big difference. This means treating people as people, always doing the right thing (even if it costs) and always working hard to be better at what we do, every single day. How does the company’s history affect how you operate in the present day? It can weigh heavy on your shoulders, but at the same time, that weight keeps you planted, gives a great sense of where you have come from and helps you make the right decisions for the future. Which trade shows do you attend? Which is your favourite? We attend Spring and Autumn Fair at the NEC, Harrogate Home & Gift in the summer and Harrogate Christmas Show in January. All the shows serve our business and our customers very differently. Having a favourite is hard – we love seeing our customers at any time. We are also passionate about our product wherever we have an opportunity to showcase it. How are you finding the economic climate in the UK? It’s certainly been challenging for many, and we have taken the view, as we always do, to keep focussed on offering our customers what they need: stability of supply, consistent low pricing, great products and no hassle. We try to make it as easy as possible for people to do business with us, little things like no quibble credits, no hoops to jump through, low minimum order value and free carriage.