Anna McLoughlin Fine Jewellery has been awarded the prestigious HALO Award for 2025, in recognition of her innovative work to engage customers with the importance of hallmarking and consumer protection in the jewellery sector.
The HALO Award, established by the British Hallmarking Council in 2021, and now operating under the Assay Assured banner, a joint venture between the four assay offices of the UK (Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield) is awarded annually. HALO recognises the UK-based jewellery business that uses their online platform in the most creative ways to leverage the added value that hallmarking provides and to educate their audience on the meaning and importance of the hallmark.
Posted: 6 August 2025
Gandys, the adventure-inspired lifestyle brand known for combining travel-ready products with social impact, is proud to announce its official certification as a B Corporation.
This milestone recognises Gandys' unwavering commitment to creating a positive impact for people and the planet – while delivering high-quality, purpose-driven products.
From day one, Gandys has stood for more than just style and function. Born from a journey of resilience and inspired by global adventure, the brand was founded on the belief that business can and should give back.
Gandys donates 10 percent of every sale to support the empowerment of children through education projects.
Posted: 1 August 2025
The National Trust for Scotland, Scotland's largest independent conservation charity, has launched its first official brand licensing program.
The charity that cares for, shares and speaks up for Scotland's heritage will, through this initiative, aim to extend the reach of the Trust's iconic brand; allow audiences across the globe to enjoy a slice of Scotland and the Trust wherever they are; and generate additional funding to support its vital conservation work across Scotland.
As a brand and charity looking towards its centenary, the 94-year-old Trust stands for Scottish authenticity, heritage, and quality, and is working alongside partners to develop products that reflect Scotland's unique stories, people, and places.
Posted: 28 July 2025
Crammed with new suppliers wanting to take a stand, Scotland's Trade Fair Autumn is a Show that caters well for companies eager to explore opportunities in the Scottish market. The Launch Gallery has already been extended with some exciting first timers.
Taking place at the SEC, Glasgow from 21-22 Sept 2025, this boutique show offers exhibitors more time and space to meet and network with buyers. Solid relationships are forged here ahead of the busy Spring buying period in January.
For those retailers searching a dynamic mix of creativity and innovation head to the Launch Gallery with its rich mix of suppliers. These include Art by Annie, Curiously Charmed, Heatons, Laconic, Little White Candle, Lunabuloona, Middleshade Perfumes, Sara Willa Landscapes and The Modern Crafter.
Posted: 23 July 2025
Autumn Fair, the UK's leading marketplace for home, gift and fashion, in partnership with Savethehighstreet.org, is delighted to announce the winners of the highly anticipated Retail Makeover Mission, a nationwide competition aimed at revitalising the independent retail sector.
After receiving hundreds of applications from across the UK, two exceptional businesses have been selected to receive a complete retail transformation, tailored to unlock their growth potential and future-proof their operations ahead of the crucial autumn/winter season - and for many years to come.
The 2025 Retail Makeover Mission Winners are the fabulous: OSO Fashion Boutique in Salisbury and Taba Naba in Felixstowe.
Posted: 15 July 2025
Momentum is building for London Packaging Week 2025. Taking place on 15 & 16 October at Excel London, this landmark 15th anniversary show is set to be the most forward-thinking and creatively charged in the show's history.
First launched in 2010 as Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London, the show has evolved into a leading platform for design, materials, technology, and sustainability.
In 2022, it rebranded as London Packaging Week and introduced four co-located events: Packaging Première, PCD, PLD, and Food & Consumer Pack, each tailored to the needs of a specific market.
Together, they form a curated ecosystem that serves the entire packaging value chain, ranging from luxury to lifestyle and FMCG.
Posted: 14 July 2025
Whether you're switching up your summer accessories, getting ahead for back-to-school, or looking for a dopamine boost for your daily bag, Warmies® has just delivered the drop of the season. These scented, soft, and stylish new accessories are more than just cute, they tap directly into the rise of comfort-core sensory gifting, and collectible fashion that's trending across social feeds, high-street, and playgrounds across the UK. From teens styling their backpacks to adults personalising their keys and totes, the demand for tactile, feel-good accessories is growing fast, and Warmies® is meeting it with a launch that's practical, playful, and seriously giftable.
Posted: 11 July 2025
The final day of Source Fashion at Olympia London drew to a close, marking the end of a dynamic and inspiring three-day event.
With record visitor numbers and a 51 percent year-on-year increase in total footfall, the show has firmly cemented its place as Europe's leading responsible sourcing event.
The show remained busy until the end, as buyers, designers, and sourcing professionals from leading fashion brands including LVMH, Harrods, Burberry, Victoria Beckham, Temperley, Bella Freud, Lyle & Scott, French Connection, John Lewis, AllSaints, ASOS, Joseph, Marks & Spencer, Next, New Look, Primark, River Island and Jermyn Street Design, made the most of the opportunities to connect with global manufacturers, explore sustainable innovations, and engage in critical industry conversations.
With a spotlight on transparency, innovation and collaboration, Source Fashion has once again proven to be more than a sourcing event, it's a platform for progress, collaboration, and long-term change across the fashion supply chain.
Posted: 10 July 2025
Buyers, retailers, and sourcing professionals from across the globe gathered at the highly anticipated event, with representatives from major industry players such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, All Saints, Next, Temperley London, River Island, Joules, Lucy & Yak, Bad Monday, Jaded London and Gigi & Olive.
United by a shared commitment to driving meaningful change in the fashion and retail sectors, attendees explored pioneering sustainable solutions and formed powerful new connections that will shape the future of the industry.
This year's show features an exceptional line-up of 250 responsible manufacturers from around the world, from over 22 key sourcing regions, including UK, Portugal, Morocco, India, Nepal, Italy, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Türkiye, France, China and more.
Posted: 9 July 2025
New research from Ventrica has revealed the revenue benefits for brands that invest in providing emotive customer experiences (CX) that consumers want.
The company surveyed over 2,000 UK consumers and found that over the last 12 months, only 4 per cent of positive experiences were delivered by AI and only 18 per cent were a combination of AI and human interaction. Furthermore, only just over half (53 percent) found chatbots to be a successful means of resolving enquiries, significantly lower than calls (87 percent).
This is leaving UK brands at risk of losing out on potential revenue opportunities, with the survey finding consumers would be willing to spend up to £100 more on a brand in the future, following a positive experience.
Posted: 8 July 2025
