Keep up with Goose Island's latest trends!

Friday, 16 December 2011


The Christmas cards are finally written and now all that's left to do is put the finishing touches to the presents.  That is one of the nice things about working at Goose Island.  Will it be knitwear for my mum and jewellery for my sisters?   Or would they like the faux fur hats and scarves.

Decisions, decisions!! 

Sharon
Sales Team
Goose Island

Monday, 12 December 2011

Home Sweet Home

 
We’re finally back from our buying trip to the Far East it’s certainly a shock to the system arriving in the UK to sub zero temperatures!!
 
It’s definitely time to pop on some Faux Fur and break out the Knitwear
 
It’s our first day back in the office today and we’re surrounded by beautiful samples for next season’s collection - so watch this space!! The new spring/summer collection is looking fab!
 
Karen
Director
Goose Island

Friday, 2 December 2011

Brrrrrr! It’s 1.5°C here at Gggoose Islanddd

Brrrrrr! It’s 1.5°C here at Gggoose Islanddd. We had a delivery of knitted frill Ponchos this morning and they're almost all sold now so they are all being dispatched tonight – in one door and out the next J
Another good seller at the moment is our Faux Fur collection, so warm and snug. They look luxurious on and at this time of the year they’re so cosy – all the girls in the office tell me. They all have a piece of Goose Island in their wardrobe and love wearing their hats and scarves.

Stuart
IT / Graphics
Goose Island

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Hi all...
Christmas is coming and the Goose is getting fat….. or at least I am! All these social occasions to attend and dresses to fit in, just what will I do!!! Luckily Goose Island has some great outfits at great prices to suit everyone’s pocket; you must check out our website for the latest deals (www.gooseislandshop.co.uk). We have the perfect little black dress for your social ‘get-togethers’, an ideal addition to everyone’s wardrobe and perfect for all you budding socialites out there.
Hurrah, it’s the 1st of December, which I’m sure many of you girls out there have been waiting for! Today heralds the end of ‘Movember’ and the demise of that awful moustache my man has been sporting! (although it was for a good cause) However, Radio 2 breakfast show presenter Chris Evans is embarking on the next stage, for….wait for it….’DecemBEARD’  Shhh girls, don’t tell the boys or kissing under the mistletoe just won’t be the same!!!!
Jayne
XxX

Monday, 28 November 2011

Tribute to Gary Speed

The world of football is in mourning over the death of the national manager Gary Speed at the age of 42. Goose Island sends its thoughts and prayers to his friends, families and colleagues.

He was a true professional and well liked throughout football. He was an outstanding player with a consistently high performance throughout over 500 premier league appearances and over 80 caps for Wales.

We were all shocked by the news yesterday and would like to praise all of the players and media that did him proud by soldering on through a tough day yesterday.

Another point for the swans was well deserved and I know that he had high hopes for the swans this year and with the Welsh national team coming of age and form we are all devastated by the news.

Gary Speed a true footballing legend!

Karl Hutchings
Commercial Director

Christmas with Goose Island...

Hi everyone, Looks like the Christmas run is underway! Our new look Retail website is bustling with orders. Our shop in Cowbridge is stocked with goodies and bargains for all of the Christmas shoppers enjoying the lights and festivities in this beautiful picturesque town. It was very busy yesterday with the Cowbridge Reindeer Parade, it’s always guarantees to draw a good crowd.

Claire form our sales department is also working at the Royal Welsh Winter fair today and tomorrow. We have a Goose Island stall there packed with a stunning collection of ladies clothing, jewellery and giftware. Why not pop over and say hello if you’re lucky enough to be there 28th-29th Nov 2011. So enjoy Christmas with Goose Island this year...

 Stuart
Goose Island

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Greetings from Bali the Island of the Gods.

Greetings from Bali the Island of the Gods.
It’s been a long journey to get here as our connecting flight from Bangkok was cancelled so we had to spend a night in Bangkok which was great as it really broke up the journey.  However yesterday was another long day of travelling starting at 5.00am – we finally reached our villa around 3.30 in the afternoon.  The weather in Bali is sweltering! The temperature is in the high eighties and the humidity is very high.  Last night we gathered enough strength to go out to get a sim card for our Bali phone only to find that the main road out of Seminyak was closed off due to a Balinese Ceremony taking place.  The driver dropped us off and we had no option but to walk through the road and right through the middle of the ceremony – which is completely normal in Bali – nobody is bothered.  We don’t know what the ceremony was for but there were approximately 200 Balinese people all dressed in white and gold  with the ladies carrying offerings of baskets of fruit on their heads - there were musicians playing gamelan, Indonesian instruments which include gongs, chimes and  drums.  It was all quite dramatic but very much part of everyday life in Bali.  This will be the first of many ceremonies that we’ll see over the next few weeks.
Karen & Pete
Directors



Monday, 21 November 2011

Hi, it may be raining and grey outside today here at Goose Island Swansea but I’m in a Spring Summer moodJ. I have the pleasure of photographing our NEW Spring Summer 2012 collection. There are some rich & vibrant colours in exciting designs as well as some cool soft whites. Don’t want to give too much away just yet ;-) I'll treat you to some previews in my next blog... So far the camera loves them and I’m sure you will too...

 Stuart
IT / Graphics
Goose Island



Friday, 18 November 2011

Wear your poncho with pride...

Hi all,

I too can take in the beautiful vista of Fendrod Lake from my desk here at Goose Island, the mist has risen from the waters, the breeze gently blowing through the trees, hues of reds, oranges and golden browns surround the lake. The last of the leaves falling to the ground reveal the distant landscape of the rolling hills and dips of the Swansea Valley completing the scene.
Perfect weather for taking a stroll wrapped up in one of our gorgeous Goose Island ponchos, they too come in wonderful hues of Autumn., Must go now the phone is ringing again….. Must be someone wanting to place another order!
Bye :-)
Jane
Sales Team



Thursday, 17 November 2011

Hi

It is a beautiful sunny day here at Goose Island. We are very lucky to be situated next to a lake on the Swansea Enterprise Park and I have a fantastic view from my desk. Looking through the trees I can see swans swimming on the water. It is one of my favourite places for a walk with Ollie and Benji our gorgeous Goose Island mascots.

Sharon
Sales Department
Goose Island


Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Tomorrow is Beaujolais Day here in Swansea...

Today I am full of anticipation as tomorrow in Swansea, where Goose Island is based, it is Beaujolais Day

To give some background to the history of this special day, the Beaujolais district of France had always made a ‘vin de l’anee’ to celebrate the end of harvest.  In the early days it was only for local consumption where it was sold after 15th December.  The rules were relaxed in the 1950s and the new date for release was 15th November, where it was then christened Beaujolais Nouveau

Later the potential was seen to market Beaujolais Nouveau as it was an excuse to clear lots of ‘vin ordinaire’ at a good profit, and selling wine within weeks after harvest was great for cashflow.  Hence the idea was born of a race to Paris carrying the first bottles of the new vintage; this attracted lots of media coverage and by the 1970s it had become a national event and in 1985 the date was changed to the 3rd Thursday in November.  

I personally have been celebrating Beaujolais Day for over 20 years, it has been an excuse to dress up and meet old friends.  In the early years we used to look forward to tasting the Beaujolais Nouveau to see whether it was good or not; the bottles had arrived in Swansea on the day, they were chilled, and truthfully, they were not very good.  As the years have moved on, I have to admit that I would not consider drinking the Beaujolais as a good rioja or perhaps a bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon hits the right notes for me, this year though I might make an exception and sample a glass, or two, if its good!!     

Beaujolais day is now celebrated across Europe, but, within the UK, I believe it is only Swansea, Cardiff and London who celebrate the day!! 

Tomorrow, Swansea and the surrounding areas will be filled with people enjoying the day, with people travelling from far and wide to celebrate the occasion and the atmosphere!!

Claire
Customer Services Department
Goose Island



Tuesday, 15 November 2011

In six day’s time I will be on my way to Bali...

In six day’s time I will be on my way to Bali with my husband Peter for our regular buying trip. As the buyer for Goose Island my job is to source and develop new products for our Wholesale Company and also our retail shops and website. Around 60% of our products are sourced from Bali with 40% coming from India. We work with small family run businesses and have worked with some of them for over 15 years! One of the factories we work with started with just 3 sewing machines in their home and now they have 2 large factories employing approx 80 staff and 90% of their work is for Goose Island. We regularly visit all the factories we deal with to ensure that the staff have good working conditions and we are very pleased to see all the workers are extremely happy! This makes us at Goose Island happy too!
 
Karen
Director
Goose Island



Monday, 14 November 2011

Wishing the Swans all the best for Saturday!

Hi,
It's Monday morning here at Goose Island in Swansea but today there seems to be a buzz of excitement around the office as this coming Saturday we welcome to the city the premier league champions and world famous Manchester United. We have waited a long time to be in this position because the opportunities brought to this area by the success of Swansea City are amazing. Goose Island staff all support the Swans and our 4 season tickets are being fought over for this game.
Wishing the Swans all the best for Saturday!

Pete Hutchings
Director
Goose Island



Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Goose Island | Facebook

Goose Island Facebook


Did you know you can now like us on Facebook?

Monday, 7 March 2011

Wholesale Outlet Successful 1st day

Wholesale Outlet Successful 1st day


Latest pic from our newly opened Goose Island wholesale outlet

Friday, 4 March 2011

Wholesale Outlet Open

We are proud to announce that our New Goose Island Wholesale Outlet will be open from Monday 7th March 2011 - We'll post more pics here on Monday.

Open to the public Monday to Friday - a range of beautiful Clothing, Jewellery, Bags, Purses, Gifts, Home & Garden Furnishings - brought to you from the Far East...

FREE membership!
Goose Island, Clos Llyn Cwm, Enterprise Park, Llansamlet, Swansea, SA6 8QY


Friday, 7 January 2011

Giving & Living


We will be exhibiting our exciting NEW collections at the following trade shows for Spring Summer 2011:
16th-19th Jan 11 - Giving and Living - Exeter, Westpoint - Stand B120
6th-10th Feb 11 - Spring Fair International - NEC Birmingham - Stand 19J50
13th-15th Feb 11 - Pure - London Olympia - Stands K74 in Gallery and C62 / D61 in Grand hall
20th-22nd Feb 11 - Moda Woman - NEC Birmingham

We look forward to seeing you there...