Hunter Price welcomes Nikki Samuels as Commercial Director

Consumer products business Hunter Price International has appointed brand and licensing expert Nikki Samuels as Commercial Director to help guide the Manchester-based business, which is on target to exceed its £40m sales forecast this year.

Nikki, the former Licensing Director and founder of character product manufacturer Sambro, brings decades of experience and knowledge to the Hunter Price team. He joins as part of the company’s ambitious growth strategy across its core product categories, including home and lifestyle, toys and activity and stationery and craft.

Following the appointment, Co-founder Jeremy Winburn will now take up the role of Trading Director, to focus on the company’s fast-paced reactionary trading business. Nikki will concentrate on the longer-term strategic vision for the business and new business development opportunities.

Hunter Price has established itself as a leading supplier of consumer products for the UK’s top retailers, with a host of successful own brands, such as ToyMania and SplashMania, as well as partnerships with the likes of Warner Bros, Cocomelon and the Style Sisters.

Most recently, the business has created and launched the new home and lifestyle brand Chapter B, for TV personality Billie Faiers, which will hit the market with the likes of Next and Very later this year.

Jeremy Winburn says: “We are industry innovators – and over the past two years we’ve continued to adapt and evolve, to carve out very clear areas of focus to help us achieve our goals.

“We’ve been strengthening our fantastic teams with the best talent, from buying and design, to sales and marketing. We’ve elevated our whole thought process and approach to enable us to deliver excellence within the industry.

“Nikki really shares our passion for product and his addition to the team will be invaluable as we start activating our plans over the coming years.”

Speaking about his new role, Nikki says: “When you set foot in Devon Mill – the home of Hunter Price – you’re hit with such an incredible energy of excitement and passion. The talent and drive to create outstanding products is like no other business I’ve known and that’s what brought me here.

“We’ve got really solid foundations as a business and now it’s time to maximise our opportunities and potential across our core categories in the UK and throughout Europe. It’s a really exciting time and we’re looking forward to sharing lots more with you about our plans throughout the year.”

Nikki will also sit on the board of directors alongside co-founders Jeremy Winburn and Managing Director Josh Eden, Operations Director Jonathan Alexander and toys Sales Director, Richard Belford.

Billie Faiers unveils home and lifestyle brand Chapter B at Spring Fair

 

Billie Faiers unveils home and lifestyle brand Chapter B at Spring Fair

TV personality Billie Faiers has unveiled her new home and lifestyle brand, Chapter B, at Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham. Billie will develop the brand in partnership with consumer product experts Hunter Price International. 

After being on our screens for over a decade, Billie has become one of the most recognisable faces in entertainment TV. With her life being documented for the nation to see for so many years, Billie has created a loyal following who love her interior design style. Chapter B not only fulfils a long-term life goal for Billie, but also seeks to satisfy her fans’ demand to see more from her in this sector.

Chapter B will encompass home furnishings, accessories, soft textiles, kitchen and dining, for both adults and children. The brand embodies affordable luxe design, combining timeless and on-trend statement pieces, which will evolve each season.

The debut Chapter B collection will go live at the end of August and two of the UK’s leading retailers, Next and Very, have already been confirmed as launch partners. The launch collection will range in price from £15 to £50.

Inspired by Billie’s own children, the Chapter B launch will also include the first ‘Kids Club’ collection, comprising storage, 3D shaped cushions, throws and accessories that can be used everywhere from the nursery to the living room.

Speaking about her new brand, Billie Faiers said: “I can’t believe the day is finally here and we’ve officially launched Chapter B! It’s a hugely proud moment for us all – the start of a very exciting chapter.

“Hunter Price has been the perfect partner to bring my vision for Chapter B to life. It’s required a huge team effort to get to where we are today, from buying and design, to sales and marketing.

“To also have Very and Next as launch partners is an absolute dream. Their customer base has real synergy with where we are positioning Chapter B in the market. We have ambitious goals for Chapter B to become a leading home and lifestyle brand in its own right. We’ve got a long way to go but I believe I am working with the best in the industry to make this a huge success.”

Allana Holmes, head of sales at Hunter Price International, added: “Bringing Chapter B to market in the UK marks a big milestone for Hunter Price.

“We’ve heavily invested in this sector as a business over the years, as it’s been a key area of growth for us. Home and interiors form a huge part of Billie’s life. It’s been well documented that she’s currently building her dream family home and has taken on all the interior design work. She has real credibility within this arena, with a following of millions who look to her for home and interiors inspiration.

“The quality of products will speak for itself and will show we mean business when it comes to creating beautifully crafted products for the home.”

Further details for the consumer launch of Chapter B will be unveiled over the coming months.

For all the latest updates, follow @ChapterBOfficial and @HunterPriceInternational on Instagram, or visit www.Chapter-B.com and www.HunterPrice.co.uk.