Widdop Bingham News

Thank you once again!

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:22:00 GMT

To all of you who took the time and voted for us for Best Service to the Independent Retailer at the Greats. We were delighted to pick up the silver award last Thursday at the glittering ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London. Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director and Chair of the Giftware Association was there to pick up the award. “This is a great achievement and one that is very much down to the great support from all our customers as well as our fantastic team of staff”.

Greats Finalists 2013

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce that once again we have been nominated as a finalist in the ‘Greats’ Gift Awards for ‘Best Service to the Independent Retailer.’ A huge thank you to all our customers who took the time to vote for us and congratulations to all of the other nominated finalists!

Old Tupton Ware Seaside Collection - Finalist for Gift of the Year

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:57:00 GMT

We were very pleased to learn today that our Old Tupton Ware Seaside Collection has made it through to the final round of Gift of the Year. Competition for the coveted first prize will as always be fierce - but we are confident in this great product range! Have you seen our Old Tupton Ware range? If you haven't, contact the sales office for a full catalogue of this hand crafted ceramic ware.

Gift of the Year - 3 shortlisted products

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:18:00 GMT

It has just been announced that 3 of our product ranges have been shortlisted for the prestigious Giftware Assocation's Gift of the Year 2013. Our RAF collection has been shortlisted for the Gifts for Men category, to find out more about our RAF giftware range visit www.widdop.co.uk/raf The Seaside Collection from our Old Tupton Ware range got through in the Collect-It category. Our brand new sentiment range of licensed gifts from the award winning greeting card designs from Blue Eyed Sun made it through in the Occasions category. Judging in the next round takes place next week and then hopefully it will be on to the finals at the Spring Fair. We'll keep you posted. If you would like to find out more about any of our shortlisted collections, please do contact our sales office. To see these and all of our range make sure you visit us at the Spring Fair next month. To register FREE for the event visit http://www.exporeg.co.uk/visit/sites/emap/sfi/13/vis/login.asp

Congratulations Laura Darrington

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Congratulations to Laura Darrington who won one of the Henries on October 4th for Best Spring Seasons Range for her Patchwork Mother's Day collection. Look out for Widdop Bingham's Mother's Day giftware range that will utilise some of Laura’s beautiful Mother's Day designs! Be the first to see this range at our New Product Preview event in our North Manchester showrooms which will start on the 27th December. For more information or to register for the show visit our events page or ask your local rep. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Widdop Bingham at the NEC Autumn Fair 2012

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to see so many of you and have the opportunity to show you our exciting new collections for the autumn trading period. We were overwhelmed with the number of visitors to our stand and if we didn’t get to see you, we do apologise. Please let us know if we did miss you and we will arrange for one of our reps to call and present all our new ranges. Alternatively a warm welcome awaits you at our wonderful showrooms here in North Manchester where all our 7000 products are on show.

Great British Show

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:12:00 GMT

Thank you to all our customers who visited our Great British Show in our showrooms. Our new products went down a real storm with you (although the cup cakes seemed to go down pretty well too!) and we were delighted with the reception you gave all our new products. However if you missed attending the show why not make a date with us at Harrogate Home and Gift. Visit our events page to find out more.

Memorabilia Jubilations

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:33:00 GMT

The Jubilee celebrations may now have finished, but on this fantastic occasion it was great to see in the daily mail live magazine that 3 of our diamond jubilee products have been voted in the top 10 memorabilia in the country according to Amazon! Designed in the UK by Widdop Bingham, the 5 piece collection made from bone china was launched to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee in this Great British year.

Widdop Bingham’s Silver Service

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

The Gift Retailer Awards celebrates its 10th Anniversary and over the last 10 years they have established themselves as the highest accolade in the gift industry recognising the best independent gift retailers in the UK and Ireland. We were delighted to be awarded the Silver prize for best service to the Independent Retailer at the glittering event at the Lancaster Hotel in London. Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director and Chair of the Giftware Association said “Being nominated for a Greats award is a real achievement by any standard. We were proud of our nomination and delighted to have won the Silver award and thank all our customers for their support . Customer service is at the very heart of all we do at Widdop Bingham. Every member of staff is 100% focused on ensuring that our customers receive the best service and this award is a recognition of that effort”. Andrew, in his role as Chairman of the Giftware Association also presented the prestigious “Honorary Achievement Award” to Oliver Tress founder of the Oliver Bonas retail chain. L : Andrew Illingworth accepting the Silver Award for Best Service to the Independent Retailer R : Andrew presents the “Honorary Achievement Award” to Oliver Tress

The RAF at the Spring Fair

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:03:00 GMT

Our RAF giftware collection got off to a "Flying" start at the Spring Fair as we welcomed Squadron Leader John McFall to our stand to mark the official launch. Also in attendance was Stuart Reid, a recently retired Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Pilot who spoke passionately about the role of the RAF in the history of our country. If you missed us at the Show and would like to see this range (or any other of our brand new collections) please contact the Sales Office on 0161 688 1226.

Gift of the Year Shortlist announced

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:56:00 GMT

We were delighted to learn that four of our products have been shortlisted for the Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year competition. Our Diamond Jubilee collectable gifts, Tracey Russell’s Wedding collection, Button Corner Mother’s Day gifts and Talking Pictures Birthday gifts all made it on to the short list. The winners will be announced on the Sunday of the Spring Fair – fingers crossed!

Widdop Bingham on Daybreak

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This morning, Widdop Bingham appeared on the ITV breakfast programme, Daybreak. We had been invited to take part in a piece relating to the Government’s Autumn Statement due out today. Sue Jameson, Daybreak’s political editor came to film the business last week when she interviewed Stuart Illingworth, our MD, asking him what support he felt the Government could give to business, as well as several members of staff who talked about the impact of the economy on their lives.

Our national accounts team continues to expand

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:10:00 GMT

A further boost to our National Accounts team, Stephen McElroy has joined us with responsibility for developing the company’s growing national account business. Stephen brings 19 years experience of working in senior retail sales with companies such as Whirlpool and Brabantia. His experience covers all the major retail sectors including electrical, grocery, DIY, department stores, independents, on-line and mail order accounts. He comments, “I’m looking forward to being part of Widdop Bingham, a fantastic leading and well respected business in the industry. The challenges of a very volatile economy await but I’m very confident with the plans Widdop have in place to grow distribution and market share. I look forward to meeting all my new customers and developing new business relationships.”

Widdop Bingham announces the appointment of two new regional representatives to their sales team

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:13:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new regional representatives, Simon Kidd, responsible for developing business in the South West of England and Paul McAleese in Scotland. Simon steps into the shoes of Alan Bastin who retires at the end of the year and brings a wealth of experience with him : prior to working with The Poster Company he worked for both Amscan International and Hallmark. He comments, “It is a privilege to join such a prestigious company as Widdop Bingham that is held in such high esteem within the industry. I am very much looking forward to meeting all the customers on the region that Alan has looked after so well for many years and building effective relationships to ensure the development of our mutual business.” Paul replaces Hendry Morrison, also retiring at the end of the year. He brings considerable experience in the gift industry having spent 5 years at Royal Doulton and the last 2 years with Dartington Crystal & Caithness Glass. “I am excited about joining Widdop Bingham with their unrivalled position in the market place as well as their fantastic range of gifts that retailers and customers love. With these tools, I am confident I can further build on the achievements to date in Scotland, whilst continuing to build successful and beneficial business relationships”

A Right Royal Do!

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:52:00 GMT

Expectations are already high for the success of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations particularly after the Royal Wedding earlier this year. 2012 will be a big British year with lots to celebrate and many retailers will want to join in. To commemorate the occasion we are launching a collection of 5 pieces, all designed in the UK, made from a high quality bone china and all come in a silk lined gift box. Pre-ordering for the collection has already started and we are expecting demand to be high. Please ensure that your orders are placed as soon as possible to guarantee delivery. Stock will be ready to ship in the New Year.

Widdop Bingham’s “Four” Star Service

Fri, 20 May 2011 15:32:00 GMT

For the fourth year on the row, we were delighted to receive the gold award for best service to the Independent Retailer at the glittering Gift Retailer Awards in London. This award is considered by many to be the highest accolade in the gift industry. Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director and Vice Chair of the Giftware Association said, “This award belongs to the entire company. The effort and commitment of every member of staff goes towards winning this award and I am proud to say that we have a winning team. Offering first class customer service is in the DNA of every member of staff regardless of their role. Nothing is taken for granted and we remain mindful that we must continually raise the bar. As we are all painfully aware, Britain’s economic recovery remains “choppy” and we are working harder and smarter than ever before. We would like to thank all our customers for their support in achieving this great honour”. Photograph from left to right Andrew Illingworth, Sales Director and Vice Chair of the GA; Stuart Illingworth, Managing Director; Shaun Schofield, National Account Manager; Sue Grant, Marketing Manager; Dave Webb, regional sales representative

Third year as Spring Fair Giftware partners

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:03:00 GMT

This years marks our 3rd year as the Spring Fair Giftware partner and we are delighted to once again be associated with the Spring Fair in this way. Our relationship with the Spring Fair goes right back to the very first Spring Fair and becoming the giftware sponsor is a natural progression. Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director and Vice Chair of the Giftware Association adds, “In these economically challenging times, linking up in this way with the Spring Fair has created a unique opportunity for us to reach a much broader global audience. The Spring Fair attracts huge numbers of visitors and acts as a source of information for many in the trade throughout the year. We are excited about the opportunities that the sponsorship programme offers us”.

A “Great” Accolade

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:51:00 GMT

We were delighted to hear that we have once again be nominated as a finalist for the “Greats” Gift awards for Best Service to the Independent Trade. This award lies close to our heart as we constantly strive to give all our customers a “gold standard” service and winning this award for the last three years has been a recognition of this effort. Thank you to all our customers who took the time earlier in the year to vote for us. This year the Awards Ceremony takes place on 19th May in London when the results will be announced. We have everything crossed!

“Garden Party” launches Garden Museum collection

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:52:00 GMT

Our exciting brand new range of licensed gifts from the Garden Museum got off to a great start at the Spring Fair. We held our very own launch Garden Party at the Spring Fair which was attended by many of our customers as well as Louise Young, MD of the Spring Fair, Isabel Martinson, Chief Executive of the Giftware Association, and many members of the trade press. Our guest of honour was Philip Norman, Curator of the Garden Museum in Lambeth, London who spoke about his involvement with and plans for the Garden Museum. To find out more about this range call us on 0161 688 1226.

Shortlisted for Gift of the Year 2011

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:56:00 GMT

We are delighted to hear today that three of our entries into the Giftware Association’s Gift of the Year competition have been shortlisted. Our fantastic preserve jars and the “Farmyard” range both in the Old Tupton Ware collection made it through to the short list as well as our wonderful new wedding collection “Amore”. This is the first time we have entered the competition and are looking forward to finding out if we have won at the awards ceremony at the Spring Fair. To see the entire collection (as well as the rest of our other 7000 lines), come and visit us at our Showroom Show which runs until 25th January or make a date to see us at the Spring Fair (6th – 10th February). We are in Hall 4 stand H20/J21.

The Royal Wedding from Widdop Bingham

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:32:00 GMT

To celebrate the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, we are launching two exclusive ranges of porcelain collectable giftware. Each collection is made up of a 6" plate, a mug and a trinket box and all are stylishly packaged in an embossed silk lined box. At £2.95 they represent great value for money. With limited stock we are working on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED basis and orders will be shipped during the month of March. To guarantee your stock, order today by calling us on 0161 688 1226, emailing us at sales@widdop.co.uk or faxing us on 0161 682 6808.

January Show

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:17:00 GMT

Get your New Year off to a cracking start by attending the January Show at our showrooms here in North Manchester, where we will be previewing our brand new product ranges. Plans are well under way and Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director and vice chair of the Giftware Association, says “Our invitation goes out to customers both old and new. This is an unmissable opportunity to see our fantastic new ranges including brand new licenses, sensational new sentiment collections as well as exciting and innovative developments in our well-known, best selling brands”. For the first time, Ling Design, the major supplier of greeting cards to the industry, will be showing their Christmas 2011 range as well as their fantastic new charity range for 2011.

Andrew - new Vice Chairman of The Giftware Association

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:57:00 GMT

Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director, has just been appointed Vice Chairman of The Giftware Association. The appointment lasts two years after which Andrew will take on the role of Chairman of The GA. The role is important in both operational matters of The GA as well as the strategic direction of the association with the role of Chairman representing and championing the sector. The Giftware Association has been promoting and supporting the UK home and gift industry for over 60 years. As well as saving money for its members, it also acts as a channel for representing and promoting its members’ views and disseminating information. If you are interested in finding out more, call The GA on 0121 236 2657.

Once, twice, three times a winner!

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to receive the gold award at the Gift Retailer Awards for best service to the independent retailer, the highest accolade in the gift industry. This is our third gold award in as many years and we truly appreciate this vote of recognition from our customers. "This award is a reflection of the commitment of the whole of the Widdop team" says Stuart Illingworth, Managing Director. "First class customer service is a mind set through the entire company with everyone’s contribution being important. We take nothing for granted continually striving to be the best in the industry in every aspect of our business. In uncertain economic times, all businesses must work harder and smarter than ever, and Widdop Bingham is no exception. To win an award three years on the run is a real pat on the back for every member of staff."

Rhythm Conference

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Widdop Bingham played host this year to the European Rhythm Conference, the world’s number one clock brand. The conference brings together distributors of Rhythm clocks throughout Europe and is an annual event held in the country of one of the distributor’s. With delegates from places as far flung as Russia, Morocco and Scandinavia, this is the first time that it has been held in the UK. The conference is the channel for launching new products into Europe – look out for new models within our range in the next few months. We have distributed Rhythm clocks in the UK since 2008 and during this time the reputation of the brand has continued to grow. Combining unique design, functionality and sound quality, Rhythm clocks are designed in Japan and boast an outstanding quality. For more information and details promotions on Rhythm, please contact us. Photo from left: Stuart Illingworth, Managing Director; Mr Kudo Takanori, President of Rhythm Clocks; Philip Dod, Rhythm executive Sales Manager in Europe at Widdop Bingham’s showroom.

An addition to our sales force

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We are delighted to welcome Bob Morgan, our newest recruit to our 11 strong team of sales representatives. Bob joins us at the beginning of May and will be responsible for developing business within Avon, Somerset, Wiltshire, part of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Bob has spent most of his career working in FMCG in a sales capacity. His variety of experience working with a whole range of retailers and distributors will serve him well in his new role. Bob is looking forward to the challenges ahead at Widdop Bingham. He says, "Being part of a progressive, well respected business in a buoyant industry is a real privilege. I relish the challenge of applying my previous business experience to this new role and ensuring the development of our mutual business. I am looking forward to meeting all my new customers and building a good solid working relationship with them".

Spring Fair Giftware Category Sponsors

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We are delighted to be the first company to sign up for a second year as the giftware category sponsors for the Spring Fair and Autumn Fair. Following on from our successful first year as sponsors, we are looking to build on these achievements creating a greater awareness of Widdop Bingham both at home and abroad.

June Showroom Show

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Change of date - 28th June - 2nd July & Sunday 4th July For one week in June, we hold a preview to Harrogate here in our showrooms. This year we had planned to open on Sunday 27th June however it is possible that England could be playing in a World Cup match that day. Instead we are planning on opening on Sunday 4th July when there are no World Cup matches being played.

Many Happy Returns!

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Mr Bob Illingworth, the Chairman of Widdop Bingham, celebrates his 80th Birthday on 9th February. The 4th generation of the family involved in the business, he took over the running of Widdop Bingham during the 1950's almost 60 years ago. At that time things were very different from what they are today - rationing was still in place, the country was being rebuilt and manufacturing was in the process of converting back from military production. During the 1980's, Bob's three sons, Stuart, Chris and Andrew, the current Directors of Widdop Bingham, joined the business. Officially retiring in 1990 Bob continues to take an active interest in the business.

An official invitation

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the beginning of this month, Andrew Illingworth, our Sales Director, was invited by the Prime Minister to attend a Reception at no 10 Downing Street. The reception was held to promote UK exports and to help UK businesses take their products and services to the world. Earlier this year, Stuart Illingworth, our Managing Director, was invited to a Breakfast Meeting with the Prime Minister when he visited Oldham.

Summer Showroom Show

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our Summer Showroom show proved to be a huge hit once again with many of our customers. The customer with the golden ticket winning £1000 of stock was Claire Spencer from Noir in Hebden Bridge. Congratulations! But a big thank you to all our customers who took the time to visit our showroom to preview our new ranges. If you did miss the event, all is not lost. We are showing at Harrogate from 19th – 22nd July and our showrooms are open Monday – Friday 8.30am - 5pm. In the picture (From left to right) Mike Stansfield - Showroom Manager, Widdop Bingham Stephen Illingworth - Business Development Manager, Widdop Bingham

Widdop Bingham makes it a double!

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a glittering ceremony in London, Widdop Bingham won the gold award for best service to the independent retailer for the second year running. The Gift Retailer Awards are the most prestigious awards in the industry with over 100 companies nominated. Stuart Illingworth, Managing Director, commenting on the company's success said, "We are living through an unprecedented period of turmoil in the economy where trading is increasingly challenging. Companies are having to work harder and smarter than ever before to provide a first class service to their customers. At Widdop Bingham we have continued to invest in the service and products we offer all our customers. Winning the gold award for the second year has required a huge team effort throughout the business. Commitment from all our staff has been critical in providing a first class customer service, and without it, this award would not have happened".

Autumn and Spring Fair giftware category sponsor

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Widdop Bingham has been unveiled today as the giftware sponsor for the Autumn and Spring Fair. We are the first category partner to sign up and are delighted to have been selected. Stephen Illingworth, our Business Development Manager says, "In the challenging times that we are all facing, this represents a unique opportunity for us to reach a broader global audience. We jumped at the chance of being the gift category sponsor and the first to sign up to this new programme." Look out for us on Springfair.com and Autumnfair.com as well as a much higher profile at both fairs. In the picture (From left to right) Stephen Illingworth - Business Development Manager, Widdop Bingham Julie Driscoll - Commercial Director, Sponsorship and Digital, Emap

Hometime Clock Collection

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Have you seen our new range of contemporary wall clocks? Hometime clocks represent a fresh and fashionable take on wall clocks. Take a look at our Hometime website (www.hometimeclocks.co.uk) or request a catalogue for more information. Short of wall space? We have a compact free standing display unit available for the Hometime range of clocks. Call us for more details.

Old Tupton Ware gets a new home

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This beautiful range of ceramic ware has found a new home at Widdop Bingham. The brand, founded by Catching Dreams seven years ago, Old Tupton Ware has grown and developed into the fantastic collectable range it is today. With 49 designs and a wide choice of products including night lights, honey pots, vases and figurines, the range appeals to a wide range of retailers. The brand will continue to develop with new designs and products whilst still retaining its strong history of heritage and quality. Tim Penny of Catching Dreams says "I would like to thank all my customers for the wonderful support you have given us over the past 7 years in helping us build the range. Many of you know Widdop Bingham to be an excellent company and I am confident that they will be able to continue to develop the brand further". The entire range is on show at our showrooms in Chadderton, North Manchester. It will be featured on the stand at the forthcoming Harrogate Home and Gift Exhibition. Catalogues are also available.

Hannah Montana The Movie

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the release of the new cinema movie (May 2009) our exclusive range of giftware is a must have for young girls! With a strong established fan base crying out for all things Hannah, a frame or jewellery box makes a perfect fun birthday present at a great price point/good value for money. We all know young girls are mad about dressing up, singing and having fun and Disney's Hannah Montana ticks all the boxes! A hugely successful TV series based around typical teenager Miley Stewart, but what her classmates don't know, is that Miley leads a double life as pop star sensation Hannah Montana. Go one better and add a picture of your budding pop star next to their idol! Don't miss out on the latest craze to rock 2009! Visit our current promotions in 'Trade Only' for further information.

Widdop In The News

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to be part of the inaugural One Oldham Business Awards held on Friday 3rd April celebrating the achievements of the business community here in Oldham. Seventy local companies were nominated for the prestigious Business of the Year with Widdop Bingham being short listed in the last three. In the picture (From left to right starting at the top) Stephen Illingworth - Business Development Manager Stuart Illingworth - Managing Director Steve Smith - Warehouse Manager Kerry Phillips - Graphic Designer Phil Lear - Warehouse Supervisor

A Fusion of Colour

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New from RCR is the limited edition collection of Fusion Colour. This kaleidoscope of coloured crystal glass comes in three trendy products: shot glasses, tumblers and espresso cups and saucers. Each product comes in a pack of six – one each of all 6 colours. Don’t miss out on this unique range of crystal. RCR is distributed in the UK by Widdop Bingham. To see the entire Widdop range, why not visit our showrooms in North Manchester (15 minutes from the City Centre)?

New Look www.widdop.co.uk

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We hope you love our new look website as much as we do. The improvements you’ve seen so far are the first steps in the process – we aim to make our website a useful and simple tool for you to use. If you want to order CLEARANCE LINES, PROMOTIONS, CATALOGUES OR REGULAR LINES, go to the "Trade Orders" page. You will need to enter a password – if you’ve forgotten the password contact our sales office on 0161 688 1226. Don't forget that new clearance lines go on the website at midnight on the first of every month. Keep a look out for more development of our website over the coming months.