'The Breed Apart Collection is definitely NOT approved by the Kennel Club, but is surely loved by anyone with a sense of fun.' So says Stephen Church, managing Director of The UK Gift Company

I'll never forget the first time I set eyes on this amazing collection. I took a phone call from Jonathan Leader, a rep I'd known for many years. He had always been a good judge of product, invariably a better one than me. On this occasion, he was unusually hesitant. He said, 'I'd like you to look at this new range of animal figurines, called A Breed Apart. I'm not sure whether they'll be your cup of tea.' He was certainly right to be apprehensive. I just wasn't sure. The figrines were certainly a lot of fun. The whimsically comical nature of these Breed Apart ornaments were certainly unusual and I'd never seen anything like them. Anyway, I decided to take a punt and try a few of them. The result was unbelievable. We started off with just a single shelf of Breed Apart. By the time Christmas had come round, we had filled a run of three floor-to-ceiling locked cabinets. Since these early days, the range has grown dramatically. Grant Palmer, the designer, has moved beyond just cats and dogs. There are now horses, lions, monkeys and even a pair of irresistable ducks - one called Daphne, my favourite name. So it just goes to show when you're a buyer in this industry. Never trust your first instinct. Always have a go with the out of the ordinary - The Breed Apart Collection is certainly that.