Flying Brands warned that poor weather and increased grain and flower costs are hurting its Gardening Direct, Garden Bird Supplies and Flying Flowers brands and could lead to disappointing results for the year ending in December. To try to compensate, the company is raising prices on some products and implementing Christmas campaigns targeting non-Flying Flowers customers.

Littlewoods parent company Shop Direct Group is making up to 70 employees redundant following a management restructuring, according to reports. According to Shop Direct, the changes, which also include the creation of new roles, are largely a result of the growth of online sales at the expense of traditional mail order sales.

In response to a wage freeze, workers at multititle mailer Redcats are voting whether to strike, according to a local newspaper. A spokesperson told the Wakefield Express that disappointing sales and the overall gloomy economy had led to the pay freeze, which affects directors as well as the rank and file. A division of French retailer PPR, Redcats’ UK titles are Daxons, La Redoute and Vertbaudet.

Direct-to-consumer sales at manufacturer/marketer Dolls House Emporium are up 45 percent from last year, while the average order value has increased 24 percent. The company attributes the increases to improved catalogue and web creative and a product offering “appealing to a much wider audience”.

Trust William, a joint venture of investment firm MDY Healthcare and pharmaceuticals firm William Ransom and Son, has launched with an ecommerce site and a print catalogue. Trust William sells natural healthcare products direct to consumers.

Purple Sails & Marine, a manufacturer/marketer of sailing gear, has entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation, according to a boating trade magazine. Liquidator Chris Moore of KJ Watkins & Co is hoping to sell the catalogue and online assets of the business. Two other units of the business, corporate clothing brand Team Purple and sails manufacturer Purple Sales, are not affected and will continue trading as usual.

The winners of the ECMOD 2008 Supplier of the Year Awards, sponsored by Catalogue/e-business magazine, were announced on Wednesday at the end of the opening day of the ECMOD conference and exhibition at Earls Court, London. Supplier companies in seven categories were nominated by their clients in recognition of their efforts. This year’s winners are:

• Catalogue Creative and Design Services: Wyndeham Masterpiece
• Catalogue and Promotional Print Production: Webmart
• Customer Recruitment and Media: Abacus
• Delivery Services: Citipost
• Fulfilment and Response Handling: Citipost
• IT Solutions: Maginus
• Website and E-Business Services: Paraspar

Congratulations to all the winners.

Nigel Swabey, chief executive of multititle mailer Scotts & Co,  has resigned as deputy chair of The Catalogue Exchange board to take up the role of president of the trade organisation. Alison Lancaster, managing director of Charles Tyrwhitt, remains CatEx chair. Swabey’s resignation created a vacancy in the board, which has been filled by the previous chair, Compton & Woodhouse chief executive Mark Dugdale. The board members will now vote for a deputy chair.

Giftware/Graphic Designer

Giftware/Graphic Designer looking for additional assignments and new challenges.
Many years experience in the Giftware industry originating ideas, writing captions, creating designs, producing finished products etc. Products have sold through well known Retailers, Mail Order Companies and Online Shops.

For further information email: karen@ecmod.com

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