In case you missed it, the digital edition of our annual Giftguide directory is out, listing thousands of suppliers & wholesalers, products and brands.
This invaluable resource and reference tool for retailers has heaps of added interactivity, making it easier for retailers to find the suppliers of the products and brands they are looking for. The suppliers index starts on page 135.
We also have some fantastic features in the first half of the magazine including four smart home trends to look out for. According to smart home expert and consultant, Carley Knobloch, a truly smart home is as beautiful as it is intelligent—the gadgets fade into the background, and come forward only to add convenience, safety or assistance—you just feel like life is easier. There are four trends in smart home innovations that Knobloch feels are prominent right now and believes will develop further this year. Read more on page 36.
Shopping centres have traditionally existed to physically connect consumers and retailers, but in the face of competition from online shopping and declining foot traffic, developers are repositioning their properties as entertainment hubs and foodie destinations. Read all about it on page 40.
Visual merchandising is still a vital part of retailing even though online shopping is becoming more and more popular, bricks and mortar stores are not going anywhere. We still need to touch, feel and smell what we are buying, we are just doing it in a different way. Visual merchandising expert Martin M Pegler shares his views on page 32.
This issue also features some great profiles including Melbourne fashion and accessories label Elk (pg 46); lifestyle store Common Circus (pg 70); gift and toy wholesaler Jasnor, which is celebrating 30 years in the industry this year (pg 80); innovative German retailer Manufactum (pg 94); and South African artist and designer Carrol Boyes (pg 90).
Once again we have selected the best products for your store, which you can find in our regular sections starting on page 98, with the seasonal selection this issue being Christmas.
