Christmas is likely to be an awful lot different this year.
Back in the nineties, HRH The Queen was widely quoted as describing 1992 as her ‘annus horriblis’. 2020 has been the annus horriblis for a great many people, as numerous memes over Facebook are very happy to remind us!
At the moment it’s hard to imagine what the festive season will bring. Our part of Essex had been assigned as ‘Tier 2’ in the Government’s scheme designating the regional severity of the Covid19 virus. Many parts of the UK were ‘Tier 3’, the most restrictive category. Subsequently, Wales has implemented a ‘firebreak’ and England has enforced its second full lockdown on November 4th, although fortunately for us, manufacturing has been allowed to continue. The lockdown is due to end on December the 2nd, but who can be certain of what may ensue? It seems clear though that there will be a return to a ‘tier’ system at least.
In ‘Tier 3’ people are forbidden to associate with any other household – either indoors or out. The ‘rule of 6’ is likely to apply to all of us throughout December. Christmas cheer might be hard to find this year.
For many of our clients the closure of retail outlets prior to Christmas is a scary prospect. However, as we have described in this blog before many of them have concentrated their efforts towards online sales. We would like to show a few examples of our work here, which has helped with this online sales process.
The images above show examples of presentation boxes we have made this year for our friends at Bettys of Harrogate. As frequent readers of our blog will know we have been enjoying a great business relationship with Bettys for many years. The top image shows a Christmas chocolate box with gold foiling on the lid and window. It features environmentally friendly dividers for the 24 chocolates. We are always extremely happy to offer environmental solutions to all of our clients. The second image shows two Christmas hamper boxes (also for Bettys) in two sizes and shapes. As we’ve mentioned before, we are proud to be one of a very few packaging suppliers in the UK who can provide circular ‘hat’ boxes for our customers.
Above is an advent calendar box made for the (predominantly) high street brand, Lush. This packaging incorporates removable trays, a hinged lid with ribbon stays and brass locks and handles. It’s a relatively complex piece of packaging but this image does display the kind of work we are capable of here at GWD!
Anyway – the gears of industry grind on…socially distanced and abiding by all Covid19 guidelines of course. We continue to help our clients display and present their goods in the best possible light.
Who knows what Christmas may be like? Hopefully it will be as merry and cheerful as it possibly can be. At GWD LTD we’d certainly like to take this opportunity (a little prematurely, perhaps) to wish all of our friends and customers a happy and joyous festive holiday!
– Noel.
Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging. You can reach him on (01279) 416093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk