Swarkestone Christmas Gift Fair 15 / 16 / 17 November 2024

We had a great time at Swarkestone Nursery Christmas Gift Fair where we had a stall retailing our photography products.  Our brand new 2025 South Derbyshire and Narrowboat calendars were on display along with our 26 different jigsaw designs - including the brand new “New Inn at Shardlow” which is available in both 500 and 1000 pieces. We also had our local range of greetings cards, notebooks and key rings as well. The stand was full!

Mandy and myself both love doing these events as we always meet lots of customers both old and new, plus fellow exhibitors. Great to see returning customers buying calendars and jigsaws and telling me how they like our products and look out for us when they come to the event.

We have been exhibiting our products at Swarkestone for the past four years and this Christmas Gift Fair was our best to date. The photo gallery gives a flavour of the event - if you have not been it is well worth a visit. Lots of great stalls and a real Christmas feel - great for buying lots of presents!

Thanks.

James and Mandy

 

2025 Calendars / Swarkestone Christmas Gift Fair / Jigsaws

My new for 2025 South Derbyshire and Narrowboat calendars have so far sold really well. I’ve already sold several at the recent Swarkestone Autumn Gift Fair. I am now starting to place these in shops in the area and will be back at Swarkestone for the three day Christmas Gift Fair 15/16/17 November. Always a great event and looking forward to it.

Sales of Jigsaws have gone well with several lines sold out - but I have an order in with my supplier and all my popular lines will be there for the Swarkestone Christmas Gift Fair and for the run in to the big day.

Thanks,

James.

Swarkestone Food and Drink Fair

We had a great weekend at Swarkestone Nursery Food and Drink Fair where we had a stall retailing our photography products.  Our brand new 2024 South Derbyshire and Narrowboat calendars were on display (see below) along with our 21 different jigsaw designs. We also had our local range of greetings cards, notebooks and key rings. Mandy and myself both love doing these events as we always meet lots of customers both old and new, plus fellow exhibitors.

Sales were 40% up on the last time we did this event (2021) – numbers were great then, so we are delighted that we are moving in the right direction.  We are back at Swarkestone in just over four weeks’ time for their big three day Christmas Gift Fair. Santa’s Christmas Grotto Experience opens up at this event and I hear that it is going to be truly special. Last year was great and we are both looking forward to this one.

watch this space

we have quite a lot to do in the lead up to our next event at Swarkestone as we are hopefully introducing another calendar plus two more jigsaws that we want to add to our collection.

Swarkestone Christmas Gift Fair 17 - 19 November 2023.

Rosemary Lodge

Rosemary Lodge is a delightful Nordic style lodge nestled in a secluded part of the tranquil Mercia Marina, Willington Derbyshire.

Owners Jan and Denis contacted me to take some external and internal photographs of their lodge plus produce a batch of A6 postcards for promotion and marketing.

It was great working with Jan and Denis as they made me feel so at home - the lodge is simply fantastic and both Mandy and myself want to stay there even though it is just down the road!

One of my favourite places to photograph, Mercia Marina is very close to where I live and is the largest inland marina in Europe. The Marina boasts, bars, restaurants and plenty of shopping - so makes a great base to stay.

If you are looking for a few days away in a great location then I thoroughly recommend Rosemary Lodge.

Here are a few more pictures:

Living area

Dining / Living area

Double bedroom with en suite

En suite bath and shower

Twin bedroom with en suite

Warm welcome

and the A6 postcard…..

For more information please click on the link:

Mercia Marina :: Rosemary Lodge

Happy New Year!

Dear all,

2022 has been another successful year for James Hibbert Photography. 

We have introduced some new products, which have been very well received by our customers, and I’ve had a few commissions working with new clients which I must say was very rewarding and the feedback I received was very positive. Due to a very successful period in the run up to Christmas I have sold out of a lot of my jigsaws but I will be replenishing stock in the New Year. I have also invested in new photography kit to add to the numerous camera bodies, lenses and accessories that I already have - you can never have too much kit!

We have thoroughly enjoyed the Fairs that we have attended; the Summer and Christmas Fairs at Swarkestone Nursery, plus the Christmas Fairs at Repton Village Hall and Repton Pear’s School. During the Repton events myself and other local businesses through our combined sales and fees raised significant sums for local charities - this is something that we hold very close to our heart and we are hoping to do a lot more events in 2023. I also created a unique souvenir postcard commemorating the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations - all proceeds from the sale of these cards were sent to our local village school.

Repton School Fayre

It has been so lovely to see our Stallholder Friends again, plus we have met some new friends, who we will definitely keep in touch with and hope to see at future events.  It is always nice to have returning customers who have made a special journey to purchase more of our products, and we also have had lots of new customers which is always appreciated.  We both get a big buzz when we talk to customers who will be sending our products all over the world.

Swarkestone Christmas fair

On a personal note, although we have had some great times during 2022, in parts it has been difficult as Mandy and myself have experienced loss of loved ones and health issues. Lots of people are struggling at the moment with what is going on around the world but for now we just hang in there and take each day as it comes. One thing is for sure I will be getting out and about a lot more with my camera in 2023 as I want to create even more memories.

So, as we say goodbye to another year, we would just like to say a huge “Thank You” to all of our friends and wonderful customers who have purchased from our little business, both Mandy and myself are totally overwhelmed by your continued support.  We wish you all a healthy and Happy New Year - here’s to 2023.

Thanks again.

Cheers.

James & Mandy xx

 

Swarkestone Nursery Christmas Gift Fair

Delighted to be returning for my second Christmas Gift Fair at Swarkestone Nursery, Derby.

The Gift Fair starts at 09:00 this Friday 18th November and we are there all weekend until Sunday night.

Opening times:

  • Friday 18th November - 9am to 5pm         

  • Saturday 19th November - 9am to 5pm         

  • Sunday 20th November - 10am to 4pm 

I will have with me:

  • My usual collection of 500 & 1000 piece Jigsaws including two new designs.

  • My new 2023 calendars “Heart of Mercia” and “Narrowboats”.

  • New greetings cards.

  • Notebooks, Key Rings, Fridge Magnets, Canvases & Prints.

All of my products are made in the UK and are created using images taken by myself in and around my local area.

Swarkestone Nursery Christmas Gift Fair is very popular and boasts over 40 stalls offering unique local handcrafted Christmas gifts, plus its free entry and free parking!

Hope to see you down there!

JHP products now available in Swadlincote

Delighted to announce that my products are now available to purchase in Swadlincote.

Located on the High Street, right in the centre of town, the South Derbyshire Visitor Information Centre is a great place to find info on attractions and what to see and do in our area:

  • Local Events & Special Offers

  • Wayfarer Tickets - Cheaper way to travel by train & bus in Derbyshire

  • Day Trip Coach Booking Agent for local companies

  • UK Holiday brochures

  • Local Walks, Leaflets, Maps, Books, Post Cards, Souvenirs & Gifts

Amongst the great range of gifts on offer I have 14 of my jigsaws here plus you will find copies of my “Heart of Mercia” and “Narrowboats” 2023 calendars

Links to their website and Facebook pages below:

Visit South Derbyshire

((1) Visit South Derbyshire | Swadlincote | Facebook

2023 Calendars

Hi all, I am pleased to announce that my 2023 calendars are now in stock and available to purchase from my website and in local Post Offices. For 2023 I have created two calendars: “Heart of Mercia” and “Narrowboats”, with both calendars containing images from my local area.

2023 Heart of Mercia Calendar

The Heart of Mercia Calendar has 12 images from my local region and as Repton was originally the historic capital of Mercia it seemed a good place to start! Willington, Findern, Repton, Melbourne, Egginton, Weston on Trent & Mercia Marina are featured.

Narrowboats

My Narrowboat calendar has twelve images taken along the Trent and Mersey canal between Stenson and Willington. I am very lucky to live so close to a wonderful stretch of canal where there are plenty of photo opportunities.

Both calendars are available to purchase from my website and are also available from Findern, Repton and Willington Post Offices.

Priced at £10.00 each – (including free UK P&P), they fit into Royal mail’s large letter category. When in use the calendar folds out to 29.7 cm x 42 cm which allows plenty of room for your appointments.

My calendars are made locally in Staffordshire and are printed on a Ricoh digital press which uses PxP-EQ based toner producing very little non-recyclable waste. The cello bag and card are recyclable, and the paper used is part of the Woodland Capture Scheme.