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Virgin Atlantic Airways aeroplane model |
UK. Premier Portfolio International has boosted its aviation gift range with a new licensed line and entered the inflight plush toy market in partnership with a leading children’s charity.
The British supplier has also reported its first listing with a top operator for its collection of destination merchandise.
Premier Portfolio, founded by Andrew Webster and Kevin Walsh to provide innovative gifts for the inflight market, has added to its growing aviation gift range with the Aer Lingus brand for 2007.
The agreement adds to those already held by the firm to produce and distribute licensed toys. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways were signed up in 2005 and KLM added in spring 2006.
Said Andrew Webster: “All products are supplied in the relevant liveries and packed for retail self-selection sales, making it a unique aviation gift for ground stores around the world.”
Plush toy market debut
In other news, Premier Portfolio International has teamed up with the world-famous Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Children’s Charity (for details, visit www.gosh.org).
Webster explained that the partnership was down to a popular British TV programme The Apprentice, which was based on a highly successful TV show fronted in the UK by millionaire Sir Alan Sugar, who became famous for his “You’re fired” catchphrase, and fronted in the US by tycoon Donald Trump.
Said Webster: “It was The Apprentice – or rather Sir Alan – that provided Premier Portfolio with the inspiration to adopt Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as the beneficiary of its new launch into the plush toy sector of the travel retail market. Instead of calendars [used in the TV programme -Ed] it’s cuddly toys!
“The licence to use the GOSH logo brings a charitable donation from Premier for each one purchased, which can then be added to by the retailer. Initial reaction has been superb, with over a 100,000 pieces already committed to in the first few weeks and with GOSH Children’s Charity over US$70,000 richer.”
Each bear is specially designed to the customer’s brief and all carry the GOSH logo.
“Premier is proud to be associated with the GOSH Children’s Charity, which needs to raise over US$270 million in the next five years to ensure thousands of children who rely on the hospital have access to the best possible environment, equipment and support,” added Webster.
Bahrain takes the Premier route
Premier Portfolio has announced the first listing for its new Destinational Souvenir Range with Bahrain Duty Free.
The range comprises 26 items in total, including electronic items, transparent playing cards, key rings and lighters as well as an unusual range of “˜liquid stationery’.
Premier Portfolio Sales Director Gary Maxwell said he was delighted at Bahrain’s commitment, as the retailer would be carrying 18 lines from the range.
He explained: “The Destinational Range is a complete “˜one stop’ shop concept for retailers to enable them to purchase a unique personalised assortment of items in strong regionalised packaging from one supplier.”
Maxwell, previously the gift buyer at ferry operator Stena Line, continued: “The difficulties in this product area are well known and we believe we can take the “˜headache’ away from the retailer. Historically retailers have had to buy from several suppliers to obtain the correct range assortment, and this then resulted in several packaging styles and sizes.”
Premier believes this is an area of great potential, as travellers generally have limited opportunities for an impulse purchase of a low-priced souvenir. The range retails from US$3 to US$20. The company is already in discussions with several operators about the new range.
The concept has been very well received by many retailers, the company said, and was launched at the 2006 TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.
Building on Funplane success
Premier Portfolio International started in business with a product called the Funplane and seven years later this is still one of the top sellers in the inflight gift market. The Funplane has led to a number of line extensions, but the latest introduced this season has been the Sonic Plush Plane.
Already listed in their own colours by 11 international airlines – including Virgin Atlantic Airways, China Airlines, Flybe, Alitalia, Eva Air, Singapore International Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Thomsonfly and First Choice – the signs are that this is set to go into the top three Funplane products, said Webster.
The plush soft plane includes a voice box that plays four ‘inflight’ messages with realistic engine sounds. It can be produced in any livery and is also available in the generic Funplane colours.
Premier planes take off
Having invested substantial funds in tooling its own line of model aircraft, Premier Portfolio has reported excellent sales of the 1:200 and 1:250 scale plastic snap-fit models.
The company is already supplying models for some 20 airlines including British Airways, Virgin, KLM, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Easyjet, Thomsonfly, My Travel, CSA and Air Europa.
Premier Portfolio has also secured orders for five of the leading US carriers for its distributor, Daron Worldwide, to retail in ground shops throughout North America.
Following these early successes the company confirms it will be developing tooling for additional models including Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
For details contact Premier Portfolio International Limited, 19 Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9DQ, UK; tel: +44 1794 521133, fax: +44 1794 521324, e-mail sales@ premier-portfolio.net Visit www.premier-portfolio.com
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