New Presentation Box for Cornelia James

This blog has previously detailed work we’ve done with the wonderful Cornelia James, specifically here Cornelia James create exquisite, hand-stitched gloves and are holders of the Royal Warrant – granted to companies who have supplied HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years. Cornelia James were granted a Royal Warrant in 1979 and have held it ever since. It is not a prize but rather a recognition of excellence consistently achieved – recognised the world over as a mark of quality and excellence which cannot be bought at any price.

Gloves from Cornelia James
Gloves from Cornelia James

This year has been a busy one for the Royal Family with two royal weddings, the biggest being Harry and Megan’s of course. We did ask Andrew Lawson (one of the owners of Cornelia James) whether Her Majesty was wearing a pair of their gloves at either event, but were met with a smiling: “I couldn’t possibly comment” response, so we’ll let readers make their own minds up. What is without doubt though is that it’s been a good year for Andrew and co-owner Genevieve, not only with the royal family being in the public view but with their stylish product featuring on a luxury goods e-portal in China. “Nothing happened at first,” said Andrew, “but then it suddenly took off and China is on fire and going wild for Cornelia James.”

Luxury brands don’t get where they are without being very particular and protective about their design, and specifically in this instance, their packaging. GWD Ltd have been producing the presentation boxes for Cornelia James since 2013, but earlier this year it was decided that the old box should be redesigned into something that made more of a statement about the quality of the product. Specifically, the colour of the box was to be changed to what was described as ‘light cockpit green’. There’s a story in this…

Embossed paper with linen texture
Embossed paper with linen texture

During WWII the cockpits of Hurricanes and Spitfires were painted in a particular shade of light green. After the war large reserves of this paint was left over, so much so that Land Rover bought up a vast amount of it and used it on many of their post-war models. As such the colour has become synonymous with ‘Britishness’ and a ‘golden’ period in our history. Given that in 2016 an estimated 70% of all Series Land Rovers and Defenders ever made – 2,016,933 vehicles – were still on the road the colour has also become synonymous with reliability, quality and craftsmanship. In that regard there’s an obvious synergy with Cornelia James’ products. Similarly, the first Landrover was manufactured in 1948 and Cornelia James was established in 1946. In that period everything was rationed or in short supply – hence the making use of the available light cockpit green paint and the popularity of gloves as a way of sprucing up an outfit for fashionable ladies without using up too many precious ration coupons.

Glovemakers to HRH the Queen
Glovemakers to HRH the Queen

Finding the exact colour did not prove to be simple. Having an example of the paint is one thing, finding the exact PMS (pantone matching system) colour equivalent that works in print is quite another. However, we are nothing if not resourceful here at GWD, and the correct hue was eventually arrived at. The style of box was also changed from a simple box and lid, to a more elegant hinged lid box that closes with ribbon ties. The paper used to cover it has a linen texture, this gives the packaging a tactile quality which oozes class.

High quality presentation box for high quality products
High quality presentation box for high quality products

We are particularly pleased to continue working with Andrew and the team at Cornelia James and look forward to continuing the relationship over the years to come.

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

A Royal Wedding and Our Royal Connections

You can’t have failed to notice that there’s another Royal wedding in the offing, and we at GWD are very pleased to offer our congratulations to Harry and Meghan in advance of their special day. We have always had something of a connection to royalty, with some of our best clients being holders of the Royal Warrant- a recognition of the consistent excellence of companies which have provided goods or services to the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh or the Prince of Wales for more than five years.

bespoke gift boxes for premier gifts
Bespoke gift boxes for premier gifts

Cornelia James, for example, have held the Warrant since 1979 – nearly forty years. Cornelia James are glovers of distinction, making the gloves that the Queen herself wears, having made their first pair for her when she was still Princess Elizabeth and was marrying Philip. Cornelia James have expressed delight at the wedding, and also the American connection, as they do a lot of business there, although they couldn’t possibly comment as to whether Her Majesty will be getting a new pair for the occasion!

boxes for floral presentations
Boxes for floral presentations

We have also made flower boxes for Taylors of Holbeach, Bulb Growers To Her Majesty The Queen, as well as spoon boxes the cutlery manufacturer, the DJH Group of Consett who supply Buckingham Palace, Windsor and Holyrood, and have just supplied an order for five thousand boxes over the three locations. We have also worked with Prestat, who make chocolate that is literally fit for a Queen.

presentation packaging for spoon sets
Presentation packaging for spoon sets

Our specialty is luxurious presentation packaging, and you don’t need Royal blood to take advantage of our services! Whether you want a single box for a special gift or a bulk order, we have a solution for you. We’ve made boxes for hats, flowers, candles- you name it, we can make a box for it. Corporate and promotional packaging is also no problem. We have been manufacturing excellent presentation packaging for over thirty years, and are experts in our field.

design gift packaging UK
Design gift packaging UK

We are proud to create the majority of our packaging right here in Harlow, Essex, although if volumes require and lead times allow, we also have the option of a Far East manufacturing facility. We have an in-house design team who can create a box from scratch for you, or we can work alongside your designers if you already have a concept in mind. Drawers, magnetic closures, heart-shaped boxes – we can provide them all according to your wishes. As the majority of work is done in-house, we have quicker delivery, time-effective sampling and, perhaps most importantly for those wishing to surprise their loved ones, no minimum order requirement.

Contact us today to discuss your requirements.

And again, congratulations to the happy couple!

Noel Greenwood is the Managing Director of GWD Ltd, the designers and manufacturers of presentation and promotional packaging.  You can reach him on (01279) 416 093 or at the company’s website: www.gwd.ltd.uk

 

Prestige Presentation Packaging – GWD Ltd and Cornelia James

The original box first made in 2013 has been redesigned with a different colour paper, different foil and new logo.
The original box first made in 2013 has been redesigned with a
different colour paper, different foil and new logo.
In 2013 GWD Ltd were commissioned by a glove company to create their presentation packaging (see Gorgeous Gloves go Hand in Hand with Presentation Packaging). This however, was no ordinary glove company but Cornelia James, glove makers to HM The Queen and holder of the Royal Warrant.

The Royal Warrant is granted to companies who have supplied HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years.  Cornelia James were granted a Royal Warrant in 1979 and have held it ever since. It is not a prize but rather a recognition of excellence consistently achieved – recognised the world over as a mark of quality and excellence which cannot be bought at any price.

Cornelia James glove box
Box for Cornelia James gloves
Cornelia James first came to GWD Ltd knowing the project would be in a safe set of hands.  Pleased with our original creation, and having re-ordered it several times in the interim, they have come back to us now that the time has come to update their packaging and  have asked us to work our magic and provide the luxury packaging which will truly do their art justice.

You will undoubtedly have seen Cornelia James’s exquisite work before, as the Queen herself has been wearing their hand-stitched gloves for almost seventy years. Their connections with royalty stretch back all the way to 1947, when they made the then-Princess Elizabeth’s going-away gloves for her marriage to Prince Philip. They have never looked back. They currently make about twelve pairs a year for the Palace. Obviously you don’t get to be that prestigious without having a keen eye for quality and Cornelia James are well aware of the importance of presentation. We like to think that that’s why they continue to work with GWD Ltd. We are honoured to be revisiting our classic 2013 box and giving it a 2015 makeover as well as creating several smaller boxes. We have very much enjoyed our collaborations with this most distinguished of glove creators and look forward to working with them again in the future.

Personalised box
Personalised box
GWD Ltd are happy to take on all presentation packaging work of course, whether your company holds a Royal Warrant or not! Even if you are unsure of exactly what  you want, our team of packaging designers and cardboard engineers can create something truly special for you based around your concept or product. Whether it’s chocolates, corporate promotional material or just one very personalised box for a Christmas or birthday gift, we can build a package for every requirement.

Incidentally, Cornelia James are not the only company we work with who hold a Royal Warrant. Below is an advent calendar for Prestat, who are chocolate makers for the Queen and we recently made a one-off trophy box, for Garrards, jewellers and goldsmiths to the Queen.

Additional smaller boxes for new range of leather goods
Additional smaller boxes for new range of leather goods
Advent Calendar for Prestat, chocolatiers to HM the Queen
Advent Calendar for Prestat, chocolatiers to HM the Queen

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