Blog Posts
Discover season must-haves, new products and all the latest news from The OMGC!
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: EAST OF INDIA
Hello and welcome to our first supplier spotlight blog.
We’ve decided to go with one of our favourite suppliers first, East of India.
We’ve stocked products from E of I for around 3 years now, starting with a small range and expanding as demand grew to the HUGE collection we now have!
In this spotlight we’ll first look at the company themselves and then I’ll share with you my top picks from their collections.
First let’s start with a little explanation from the owners on how East of India was born…..
East of India was started February 1991 by John Ayris and Anne Spratling. Whilst travelling throughout Asia they met a talented craftsman in Bali who had made a beautiful wooden pig, among other amazing products. They bought the pig and packed it into their rucksack. Three months later back in the UK they received so many admiring comments regarding the pig that they decided to start their own business, introducing these beautiful handmade crafts to a wider audience.
Today, East of India's beautiful handmade gifts are all designed in house, in Folkestone, from initial concept to final production and they take their corporate responsibility on environmental issues seriously. For many years, they have been involved with a tree-planting project in Indonesia.
East of India is also the owner and guardian of ‘Oak Wood’ in Kent, 22 acres designated as ancient woodland, in an area of outstanding natural beauty and site of special scientific interest.
Plus, their office and warehouse in the UK have a solar power installation which helps generate over half the electricity they need, saving over 32 tonnes of CO2 being added to the atmosphere every year. Finally, they reuse packaging wherever possible; or use eco packaging products.
So, this eco conscious company produces not only beautifully handmade treasures for the home but in a environmentally friendly way that supports the artisan people it employs. From porcelain pebbles to wooden works of art, East of India provides gifts for all occasions so no matter the celebration, add a touch of sentiment with these unique and beautiful items.
Now you know all their amazing credentials let’s look at my top picks from their range!!
Firstly, I may be a little bias but I adore all of their trinket dishes. The cute little ones are perfect for your bedside to collect your tiny treasures like earrings and other jewellery. And the larger ones are great for sides in the hallway to collect keys, change and other bits you’d like organised as you get home from a long day.
My second pick from their range had to be a hanging plaque, after all this is the real bread and butter product of their expansive range.
Featuring usually sentimental, meaningful or perhaps even a little cheeky sayings; East of India’s signs are just about perfect for any recipient. There newest range has added a little colour to their wooden hanging plaques and we just love it. We think they would make a lovely mother’s day gift for up and coming Mother’s Day 2022.
Finally, East of India have really tapped into the bud vase trend that we have seen over the last couple of years. From hand painted, glazed grey tones to simple but beautiful white porcelain with a small decoration and quote, there is sure to be a lovely home décor piece to add to your shelf.
If you would like to learn a little more about their humble beginnings please visit: https://eastofindia.co.uk/about/
And to browse our collection please go to:
https://www.theomgc.co.uk/for-home-decor-east-of-india-handmade-rustic-decor.irc
BRAND NEW BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS FOR A FRESH 2022 - INTRODUCING LANGS EARLY 2022 RANGE
We are in love with Langs new home decor items that include beautiful designs, pretty sayings and cute shabby chic ornaments. Langs have really got it spot in with this drop as the collection is varied but completely on trend.
Think pretty pastels, greys and natural woods. All their pieces are designed by their artists in Derbyshire and are 100% unique to them. A lot of their interiors focus around families and togetherness which is absolutely perfect in the current covid climate when we really appreciate those around us and how a house is made a home.
Below we explore our favourite pieces and discuss why we love them and how they tick big 2022 trend boxes!
We love the different tones of grey in this stunning family framed picture which is accented by the pink blossom on the trees. We love the pebbles which add a natural feel.
We have other pictures in this range to check out including a sweet grandparents one.
www.countryliving.com state that ‘Sustainability and natural materials’ will also be a big trend for 2022. We therefore predict this plaque could be a top seller this year with its lovely natural material background. The detailing is then painted on the top. Finally, the grey washed wooden frame finishes the piece beautifully.
These simply designed cat ornaments are sold in Small and Large and are a cute neutral decor for the home and these ornaments will be timeless addition!
These set of three shabby chic house ornaments will bring a cute, cosy vibe to any home. Perfect on a shelf or mantle, they tap into the ‘cottagecore’ trend of 2022. Cottage Core encompasses the Romantic rural life. These little houses can help create a connection with the simpler things in life, even in the most urban home.
2021 ROUND UP AND A BIG THANK YOU! 17/12/2021
Well what a year we have had! After a difficult couple of years for most businesses we have been really humbled by our customer's support, both online and in store. 2020 was obviously particularly hard for us and a lot of businesses with The Office for National Statistics saying: "Temporary closures, a shift to online shopping and reduced travel meant the first wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) had an enormous impact on business – but some industries fared far worse than others." Luckily, due to the shift to online shopping we were able to muddle through and opened in 2021 after the early lockdown that year with great optimism. And all our lovely customers did not disappoint us. Thanks to all our lovely locals and visitors we have had our best year to date!! It has therefore been a very busy time for all our staff, whether seasonal or all year round and so a big thank you goes out to all of them for their commitment, hard work and great senses of humour that got us all through it.
Of course we are now starting to look towards 2022, with many of our suppliers itching to show us their new season ranges we are now very excited for what is to come! Not only that but we have had a few lovely gifts from some suppliers to thank us for working with them in 2021. Quinn loves being involved with the gift shops and was very excited to receive our Christmas goodies as you can see.
From the lovely Transomnia - Who supply us with quirky gifts and home accessories.
From the amazing Richard Lang - Best known for their unique, designed in house gifts and home items.
Yummy selection from Stands Out who provide us with many holiday maker favourites.
Quinn's happy face thinking it's all for him!
It is nice to feel appreciated and to that end, to thank you for your support in 2021; if you place an order with us over the phone in January 2022 we would like to give you 15% off your order (excluding delivery and edge sculpture pieces) !! Just quote JANUARY THANK YOU to the staff member on the phone and they can put your order through right there and then over the phone with your 15% discount. Simples.
GONKS GALORE! 02/11/2021
According to Olivia Heath, from housebeautiful.com: "The Christmas gonk is expected to be in a lot of homes this year. A fun Christmas accessory, these little figurines with long bushy beards and knitted hats were extremely popular in 2020." So this Christmas we have built on last year’s favourite trend - Xmas gonks! Think large traditionals, soft light ups, hanging cuties and modern twists.
Introducing our best selling (in store!) Christmas tree hanging decoration: Dark Red Fabric Hanging Gnome | With White Hair | Xmas Decoration.
The gorgeous Dark Red fabric gives this hanging christmas gonk decoration a luxurious feel and is finished with white hair and cute little nose.
Next up is our light-up gonk...we couldn't pick our favourite so we're sharing a few with you! Firstly our set of two battery operated modern light up gonks are the cutest light up fabric gonks! With woolly hats and fluffy beards, and each is holding a silver star. Both children and adults alike will love these and their colouring is perfect for neutral modern home decor schemes. These two beauties are by Langs who has been a family import and wholesale business for over 50 years and they say: "We specialise in finding "something different" and providing value for money without losing sight of quality." So you can be sure these gonks will be a unique and quality piece for your home.
Second up is Ellie's favourite, our light up white sequin Christmas gonk from heaven sends, one of the leading wholesalers of seasonal decor. This cute little guy is bang on trend for xmas 2021 and neutral enough to go with any Christmas display, looking especially good on a mantle piece.
The light up element of this gonk will also help to create a cosy, relaxing atmosphere for those cosy nights in. So with our gonk not only will your home look trendy this festive season but you'll bring a smile to your children's and your face!
Last but not least is something a little different - no plush gonks to be seen here but a cute and practical item for the home! Introducing our brand new, designed in derbyshire: grey winter gnome tray.
This gorgeous grey wooden gonk tray, can be used for displaying ornaments and trinkets, as a tea tray or as perhaps as a festive table display for Christmas day.
