Hi Mark!
It was great to see you at the shows at the start of the year. How has 2018 been for you so far?
“It may sound a little trite but we have been really busy. In the UK retailers are finding it tough but we are getting increasing range exposure from our existing clientele and there are still new customers finding us. Where we are particularly fortunate is that by dint of the depth of range we overlap a number of industry sectors.”
Sounds busy! Did you see much of a boost from the last-minute royal wedding rush?
“The reality is that we didn’t have much in terms of Union Jack and so we sold out just before the event – but it all came very late and was very patchy. I would suggest that our customers in the south east did, on the whole, far better than their northern colleagues. Having said that we sold a lot in Manchester.”
Your catalogues for 2018 have some stunning new lines in. What’s the retail feedback been like?
“Great! And I don’t say that lightly, the feedback has been terrific. Especially as it has been backed up by repeat ordering which is always the acid test.”
Boland Party has always had a strong focus on new product and clever design – what is your favourite new product or theme for this year?
“Really bad question as my favourite products are the ones that bomb. As sure as eggs is eggs if a new product is introduced and I think ‘wow’ that’s great… it doesn’t sell! However, customers’ favourite products are our new themed football party range and our new USA-themed range, all very original Boland designed products.”
And finally, it’s that time of the year, so we have to ask; Halloween 2018 will be here before we know it. Any predictions?
“I shall be very ‘zen’ like here… my predication is no prediction. The only certainty about Halloween for 2018 and maybe the next two to three years, is that none of us, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer can, any longer, predict what will sell at Halloween.
The Halloween consumer is now a very quirky creature who is influenced by the mysterious ether surrounding social media. Until the retailer opens their doors and displays their wares, only then will that consumer walk in and ask for a vampire eating anteater costume…. All I suggest is that retailer keep a very open mind and their eyes on social media.”
