From humble beginnings at Camden Lock Market in the 1970s to becoming a world-leading name in decorative tin packaging, Silver Crane has built its success on creativity, craftsmanship, and originality. Renowned for its instantly recognisable “WOW” designs, the company continues to set industry standards through innovation and attention to detail.

At the heart of Silver Crane’s story lies a deep respect for intellectual property. As proud ACID members, they understand that protecting design integrity is vital — not only to safeguard their own ideas but also to reassure clients that every creation is genuinely unique. Their commitment to sustainability, originality, and strong IP protection underpins their continued global growth and ensures that Silver Crane’s designs remain as distinctive as the brand itself.

1. Silver Crane has evolved from Camden Lock Market ceramics in the 1970s to a world-leading name in decorative tin packaging today. Looking back, what role has design and originality played in building such a strong global brand identity?

Design and originality have always been at the heart of Silver Crane. From our early days selling ceramics in Camden Lock Market to creating decorative tins for the world’s leading retailers, our success has always come from doing things differently. We’ve never been one to follow trends — our role has always been to create them. That design-first mindset has built our reputation globally and continues to be the reason why customers return to us year after year.

2. Your tins are instantly recognisable and have a reputation for “WOW” factor. How do you use intellectual property (IP) to protect that creativity and ensure your unique designs remain exclusive to Silver Crane?

When you pour so much time, creativity, and investment into original design, protecting it is essential. We register our designs and trade marks in key markets, keep detailed records of the creative process, and work under confidentiality agreements with partners. But IP isn’t only about safeguarding Silver Crane — it also gives our customers peace of mind. They know that when they work with us, their products are truly exclusive and can’t be replicated elsewhere.

3. Many ACID members experience copying and lookalike products. Have you ever faced situations where your designs were infringed , and if so, how did you respond to protect your IP?

Yes — copying is unfortunately a reality in our industry. It’s incredibly frustrating to see your work imitated, but we’ve always responded firmly and quickly, whether through legal channels, direct action or industry networks.

4. Winning awards like “Innovative Pack of the Year” and “Reusable Pack of the Year” highlights Silver Crane’s focus on originality and sustainability. How do these accolades help strengthen your position when it comes to preventing or challenging copycats?

Awards provide independent validation. When a design is recognised by the industry as best-in-class, it underlines that it’s new, innovative, and unique. That makes it much harder for a copycat to pass off something similar. For us, awards also energise the team — they remind us why it’s worth pushing boundaries, and they reinforce our message to customers that when they work with Silver Crane, they’re getting market-leading creativity.

5. The packaging industry is fiercely competitive. What do you see as the biggest IP challenges for creative businesses like yours, and how do you stay ahead in protecting your ideas?

Speed and cost. Trends move quickly, and copycats can react faster than ever, so protecting designs needs to be just as quick. International protection is also expensive and complicated, but it’s essential for businesses like ours with a global reach. The way we stay ahead is by constantly innovating, registering our designs, and being proactive in telling our story — why originality matters, and why it’s worth investing in.

6. As ACID members, what benefits or resources have you found most valuable in supporting Silver Crane’s journey, particularly in defending your rights and safeguarding innovation?

ACID has been hugely valuable for us. On a practical level, the advice, guidance, and resources are excellent, but the bigger picture is just as important: ACID is a strong voice campaigning for design law reform and championing originality. Being part of that network gives us confidence that we’re not alone in this fight, and it helps raise awareness across the industry that design has to be respected.

7. With your new Bournemouth warehouse and global expansion, Silver Crane is clearly scaling at pace. How does IP protection support your international growth strategy?

As we expand into new markets, IP protection gives us and our partners confidence. Retailers want to know that the designs and products they launch with Silver Crane are truly theirs and won’t suddenly appear elsewhere in copied form. By protecting our creativity globally, we safeguard not only our own investment but also theirs. It builds trust, strengthens long-term relationships, and ultimately gives us the foundation to scale internationally with originality at the core.

8. Can you give us a glimpse of what’s next? Do you have any exciting new designs, innovations, or collaborations coming to market that you can share with us?

Innovation is what excites us most, and we have plenty in the pipeline. We’re developing new seasonal gifting ranges that bring together creativity, sustainability, and collectability — packaging that people want to keep and treasure long after the food is gone. For us, the joy is in raising the bar a little higher each year.

9. ACID values the support of its members to enable it to campaign for design law reform. Do you have any messages for Government/Policy Makers on IP issues? Do you think that copying of designs is deliberate and blatant?

My message to Government would be that design theft should be treated as seriously as any other kind of theft. UK creative businesses invest millions in ideas, and those ideas are one of our greatest strengths internationally. If we want the UK to remain a global leader in creativity, we must protect the people and businesses that make it happen.

10. Finally, have you signed the ACID IP Charter?

Yes