10 Minutes With Gill Thorpe

Gill Thorpe is MD of The Sourcing Team and longstanding board member of the BPMA

Although incredibly busy juggling the running of her own successful company* with taking a very active role on the board of the BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) and enjoying family life with husband Laurence and son James, Gill Thorpe is also willing to spare time to offer her advice and expertise to the industry by taking part in seminars (as she did during the recent Promotional Marketing Exhibition), or by taking part in interviews such as this.

I caught up with Gill as she had just completed a gruelling day of back-to-back meetings and was travelling to an evening industry seminar.

Q. What did you do for a living before you got involved in the promotions industry?

A. Firstly it was financial sales, followed by antiques; I suppose you could say they both offered investment opportunities!

Q. How and when did you get into the promotions industry?

A. Through dint of fate, I got a job at Triangle, a successful and dynamic agency, and got into the merchandise side of things and loved it! I was inspired to spend several gruelling years taking the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchase & Supply) qualifications at evening classes. The CIPS course has proved a better investment for me than antiques!

Q. What has changed about the industry during that time?

A. Systems where once it might have been a case of who and what you knew, now there are technical processes to go through before you can supply an agency or promoter formal tendering, including e-tendering. Also, client expectations and the quality of products has increased, but lead times have reduced.

Q. What do you like and dislike about the industry?

A. Great clients and great suppliers and learning new things all the time are the things I like best. I love a challenge. I delight in creating new products and nursing them through from concept to seeing them live in a campaign.

Q. What do you dislike about the industry?

A. Un-thought-out widgets and impossible clients.

Q. You've just been to the massive Hong Kong Gift Fair. What did you see there in terms of trends in products?

A. Silicone its going to be massive in the next six-twelve months. Also, the eco trend is growing in the promotional industry as it is in the retail word. But enough said, I dont want to give away all my secrets!

The trip was more about developing partnerships with existing manufacturers rather than sourcing new products. We are due to open our own office in Hong Kong at the end of August 2007.

Q. What do you think we can learn from the way they plan and execute massive exhibitions in Hong Kong?

A. The Hong Kong Gift Fair is incredibly well organised. From badge tracking to the clear signage; from the new product showcase at the entrance which shows you exactly whats hot, to the designated helpers who will take a description and help you to find the very product you want at the show.

And, of course, theres the vast number of suppliers you can see under one roof at one time. Plus, the show is so well attended from all corners of the earth.

Q. What do you think is in store for industry as a whole?

A. Obviously consolidation and the sad point is that smaller companies who dont have the technical capabilities and structure are disappearing. But on the plus side, theres the improved quality of the goods. The best suppliers are moving forward very quickly and making everything very professional and are therefore successful and growing.

Q. Now, tell us the one little thing about you that nobody in the industry knows?

A. I hate flying which is comical because I spend so much time travelling. Oh yes, and Im a master at playing table football. Aside from that there are a lot of things the industry dont know about me

Interview by Carole Bull
Editor
Promotional-merchandise.org.uk

*The Sourcing Team sources products for sales promotion, direct marketing, exhibitions, PR, incentives & events from off the shelf in Europe to totally unique items, made to order from around the globe.

If theres someone you think we should put in the spotlight or a subject youd like to air, then email editor@promotional-merchandise.org.uk with your ideas.

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