German backpack brand Kapten & Son is excited to announce the opening of its first-ever UK retail store, launching in August, in the heart of London's vibrant Seven Dials/Covent Garden district.
This opening marks a major milestone in the brand's international expansion, bringing the beloved Kapten & Son experience to one of Europe's most influential fashion capitals. With a strong footprint across continental Europe – thanks to successful store launches in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna, and Amsterdam – London now represents the next step in connecting with a growing global community of urban adventurers.
The new flagship store will offer a series of interactive experience stations designed to help visitors find their ideal backpack.
Posted: 30 June 2025
Supplier of colourful jewellery, scarves and bags, Miss Milly has scooped the gong for Micro Business of the Year at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Awards.
"We have previously been a finalist for Most Promising New Business," explains a delighted Sarah Watmore, Owner. "And after a strong period of sustained growth it felt like the right time to enter these prestigious, local awards again. I am over the moon that our consistency, passion, evolution and success has been formally recognised."
Judged by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Luke Elliott from the Worcestershire Growth Hub, Sarah was presented with her award at a sparkling magic-themed evening at the Worcester Arena.
Posted: 25 June 2025
Source Fashion, the leading destination for responsible sourcing and fashion innovation, running 8th-10th July 2025 at The Grand Hall, Olympia London, is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new event app. Designed to transform how attendees experience the show on-site and throughout the year, The Source Fashion app, powered by Grip, is now available for download.
Created to increase engagement and connection between exhibitors and visitors the Source Fashion app acts as a smart companion before, during, and after the event. Key features include:
Customisable Schedules: Visitors can browse the full agenda and curate personalised itineraries tailored to their business goals and interests.
Smart Networking: AI-powered matchmaking connects visitors and exhibitors. Users can schedule meetings and build networks.
Posted: 19 June 2025
Textile legend, Fashion Designer and Director of MAXXAM, the inventor of the 'Original Crinkle' Rosemary Moore, in collaboration with the Graduate Fashion Foundation, is proud to announce Paballo Sannah Makifafe as the overall winner of the inaugural GFF x MAXXAM design competition, unveiled during the Gala Show at Graduate Fashion Week 2025, held on 16 June at the Truman Brewery, Shoreditch.
The competition, launched earlier this year, invited fashion students from across the UK and internationally to design a SS26 womenswear capsule collection using MAXXAM – the original 4-way stretch crinkle fabric invented by Moore and still in production today.
Posted: 18 June 2025
Autumn Fair 2025, the UK's largest seasonal showcase for Home, Gift and Fashion, has joined forces with SaveTheHighStreet.org, to launch Retail Makeover Mission, a bold new initiative launching aimed at revitalising independent retail and act as a catalyst for high street regeneration across the UK.
Championing independent retail innovation and resilience, the Retail Makeover Mission is a timely answer to the UK's retail crisis. The campaign launched on Tuesday 10th June with a competition for independent retailers to win a complete business transformation package worth over £10,000, and a survey to understand the pressures facing the industry to help drive positive change.
Posted: 10 June 2025
The popular, coastal Giving & Living trade show will now take place from Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th January 2026, in its usual venue, Westpoint in Exeter, just one mile off the M5, in the heart of the beautiful South West. The later dates mean that the show no longer clashes with Top Drawer Spring, or Harrogate Christmas Fair. Great news!
Posted: 10 June 2025
A new drive to grow the number of small businesses in the UK, through targeted support for side-hustles and start-ups, has been announced by Small Business Britain and eBay.
The new Side-Hustle Lab – a free, six-week online programme, designed to help people get started, scale up, and build successful businesses – will launch on 4th June.
With the number of small businesses falling by 9 percent over the last five years – from a peak of 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024 – the organisations are jointly calling for greater support for start-ups, and particularly businesses starting life as side-hustles.
Posted: 3 June 2025
Leading carton manufacturers, Falconer Print & Packaging, has helped Yorkshire-based brand, The Woodland Gift Company, turn a heartfelt vision into a commercial triumph by producing a bespoke, storybook-style jewellery box that has redefined the brand's identity.
Thanks to the team at Falconer Print, what began as a simple prototype crafted on an ironing board has transformed into a beautifully engineered packaging solution.
The whimsical "Storybook Gift Box", opening into an enchanting woodland scene with a jewellery jar nestled inside, has captured customers' imaginations and helped the brand achieve one of its strongest trading periods ever.
"From our first meeting, Falconer Print just got it," said Charlotte Appleton, founder of The Woodland Gift Company.
Posted: 28 May 2025
The winners of Gift of the Year 2025, organised by The Giftware Association, have been unveiled.
Gift of the Year honours outstanding products that capture the spirit of giving across the retail landscape. This year saw a record-breaking number of entries and some of the most inventive, heartwarming, and sustainable gifts the industry has ever seen.
These winners stood out for their exceptional design, innovation, and ability to wow the judges — who were made up of buyers and retailers — and ultimately will see their products in the hands of consumers, whether on the high street, online, or in boutique stores across the country.
Posted: 23 May 2025
G H Stafford & Son LTD — one of the UK's leading suppliers of leathergoods and accessories — is launching a nationwide Window Display Competition to celebrate the creativity of independent retailers. The competition kicks off on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Retailers are invited to submit photos of a window display featuring G H Staffords' products by Monday 7th July 2025, with a £100 account credit awarded to the best entry in each of six regions:
Scotland & NI, North, Midlands, South, Wales, and Ireland.
Posted: 22 May 2025
