Willow Tree Figurines - Our All Time Favourite by The UK Gift Company's Managing Director, Stephen Church

My first viewing of the Willow Tree Figurines Collection came in the year 2000. I was at a trade show and our Enesco Representative showed me this new collection from a company called Demdaco. I hesitate to admit it, but my first reaction wasn't favourable. "You're joking," I said. "These Willow Tree figures will never sell. They haven't got faces. They look most weird." The representative had more commercial sense than me. He disagreed. He said, "Give them a go. You'll find that by the end of the year, they will be one of your best sellers." Being easily persuadable, I reluctantly agreed to take Willow Tree Figures on. In 26 years of business, I can't remember ever having been more wrong. From day one, sales of these Figurines were incredible. The appeal was instant and, ironically, it was the quality of 'facelessness' that I had feared would be such an obstacle, which in fact appealed to customers most. And of course, it's not just the standard figurines which people love. There are the Willow Tree Angels, Hanging Ornaments, Keepsake Boxes and Photo Frames, not to mention the annual appeal of the Nativity pieces that everyon loves. Everyone loves the collection for different reasons. I was in the shop only last week and a collector told me what attracted her to the Collection. "It's just the way the heads are gently tilted", she said. For others it's the hands and for others is the elegance of the posture. Another reason for the success of Willow Tree is their versatility as a gift. You can give flowers or chocolates for almost any occasion, but the figurines don't fade and they don't melt. Their a gift that expresses an emotion that simply lasts forever.