International Jewellery London exhibitor Talbots provides many brands and retailers with the quality packaging they need to boost brand awareness and impress their customers.
Here, Talbots managing director Julie Fowler-Drake explains why gun-metal finishes and minimal designs are bang on-trend for AW16 and beyond.
Q: How have tastes changed in packaging recently, and do your clients now expect something different?
JFD: Tastes have changed in that our clients want simple, modern packaging that feels beautiful to touch. Think simple finishes of paper texture and branding. Less is definitely more.
Q: Are there any new pieces offered by Talbots that are proving popular?
JFD: Our Couture box range is proving extremely popular with clients who are looking for something classic and high quality. The Couture boxes have a luxury soft touch finish with matching outer soft touch sleeve and a modern black velvet interior, making them very tactile and luxurious. Our mini Box Bags are also very popular – customers love their versatility. Both collections are in stock and can be branded for the client.
Q: What would you say to customers who are currently using unbranded packaging?
JFD: Branding is so important to any company whether you are a small independent jeweller or a larger firm. Having quality packaging with your company name on it means that your customer’s brand experience is followed through from start to finish. As a retailer, the packaging reinforces your store as the brand and keeps it in the customer’s mind for years to come. Smart retailers get that.
Q: What do you think sets Talbots apart from the competition?
JFD: Our design and creative capability. We are not just a packaging company – we offer clients a unique design-to-production service where we work closely with clients to produce the perfect product for their company, advising them on how best to reinforce their brand identity through beautiful packaging.
Q: Will you be showing anything new or different at this year’s IJL?
JFD: Of course, we will have lots of new jewellery box ranges and bags to match. Continuing the minimalist and simple styles we have been seeing, we will have a lot of new product in gunmetal greys.
Q: What have been your impressions of exhibiting at IJL – is it a show that is important to Talbots’ yearly trade show schedule, and why?
JFD: IJL is a very important show for Talbots Group and is a date not to be missed for us. The show is more design orientated from a client point of view so is very fruitful for us because it tends to be the design-aware clients who recognise the value and importance of beautiful packaging.
Visit Talbots at IJL 2016 from 4th-6th September on Stand L51