Another Royal Connection for GWD!

by Box MakingDesignPresentation PackagingRoyalty

Packaging for the Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations! 

We have written previously in this blog of GWD’s connections with holders of The Royal Warrant, notably Cornelia James. Recently, we were contacted by Taylor’s Bulbs of Holbeach, who hold The Royal Warrant as Bulb Growers to Her Majesty The Queen and have won the distinguished Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for 23 years consecutively. The owner of Taylor’s Bulbs, Lord John Taylor, Baron of Holbeach CBE PC FRSA, is currently also Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords.

Taylors had bred a new bulb called ‘Gentlemen at Arms’ which was to be presented in person by Lord Taylor to Her Majesty at a Royal garden party at Windsor Castle in May 2016, on the occasion of the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations. The company wanted a bespoke, one-off presentation packaging solution to display the bulbs in the best possible way and approached GWD Ltd to create it.

The box in our factory
The box in our factory

The deadline was quite tight (four days from start to finish!) and the quality was to be of the highest standard so there was some pressure with the job. At GWD however, we have been creating bespoke packaging projects for over 30 years, so we have the experience and the team members to carry it off. The box itself was 700mm tall in deep purple with two central ‘windows’ die-cut into it to display the bulbs. It had a top lid and cords (also in deep purple) so Lord Taylor could carry it when presenting the flowers to HRH The Queen (who, no doubt, received it whilst wearing her Cornelia James gloves!)

'Gentlemen at Arms'
‘Gentlemen at Arms’

The overall effect, especially with the marvellous blooms included was, in Lord John’s words ‘Magnificent’. Helen Chambers, Key Account Manager at Taylor’s Bulbs said: “He (Lord John) was delighted with the whole look…the flowers fitted perfectly through the window section.” She added: “Many Thanks to you and all your team for making this a successful project and in such a small space of time, we appreciate the speed and attention to detail given.”

We can’t be sure of Her Majesty’s reaction we like to imagine that she was quite impressed too:-)

The Baron of Holbeach
The Baron of Holbeach

 

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

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Prestige Presentation Packaging – GWD Ltd and Cornelia James

by Gloves
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