With Guy Fawkes safely put to rest and the clocks firmly set to ‘winter’, the home run to Christmas has well and truly begun, with festive markets springing up around the country and Santa’s wish-lists forming in people’s minds.
As the first show of the season – and with a strengthened focus on locally made British products – Giving & Living is the ideal place to kick off your new product sourcing after Christmas. What are your customers going to be looking for? What will shape consumer spending behaviours in the year to come?
To help inspire your buying we look ahead to some of the key trends that will help shape consumer spending over the coming season. Key sectors for the 2023 show include Coastal Path, Naturally and Designed and Made in Britain, all of which are at the front and centre of the consumer preference for locally made, sustainable products and holidaying at home.
Whilst the cost-of-living crisis is likely to subdue gift spending, shoppers are still out there in search of inspiration and retailers can help to coax them instore with beautiful window dressing and merchandise displays. Key occasions such as Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day will not be ignored and neither will birthdays (especially for pets!). Where money is tight functionality will also be favoured, with more consumers choosing to gift items that can be of practical value and are needed as well as wanted.
With many people now working from home they will be on the lookout for products that support their new lifestyle. Fragrance diffusers and other forms of incense, desk furniture and accessories, lighting solutions, grow-your-own gear, houseplant pots and pet products are all important for the new stay-at-home generation. At the other end of the scale, worries about energy prices mean that blankets, hot water bottles, wrist warmers, socks and slippers will all be welcome gifts this Christmas.
Where money is really tight but sentiment is still strong, lovingly chosen greeting cards will become more important than ever, whilst calendars have not fallen out of fashion but are morphing into beautiful and affordable pieces of wall art.
Shopping Local, Buying British
As consumers focus on where, exactly, they want to spend their money, local businesses can expect to build on the loyalty that grew strong during the pandemic years. Retailers who can demonstrate that they are stocking locally-made products – be it food and drinks, cards, jewellery or homewares – will be supported on principle by the public.
As a result, we’re expecting 2023 to be another strong year for handmade crafts and other locally made products, with consumers determined to buy British wherever they possibly can – and we’re really looking forward to introducing you to all our Designed and made in Britain exhibitors, who can help you give your customers what they’re looking for!
Trend forecasting agency, TrendBible anticipates a consumer shift which seeks lovingly handmade gifts and a thrown-together look. The simple things in life and the small things which can brighten up a day will all take on a new and more important meaning in the year to come. As they say, it’s the little things that matter – and simple pleasures are still the best :).
This sense of downbeat authenticity is given a fun twist by a strong emerging trend which points to all things psychedelic. You can expect to see mushrooms of all shapes and sizes popping through on cards, prints, textiles and decorative items in the seasons to come.
The surreal and psychedelic are also reinforced by an important key colour for next spring, which is PURPLE! Lavender, lilac, shades of berry and even a touch of magenta will all be big on clothing, accessories, textiles, gifts and homeware in the seasons ahead, so keep your eyes peeled for this regal hue whilst you’re at the show in January.
Overall, we’re also seeing a continuing strong shift towards oneness with nature, and away from unsustainable, environmentally destructive habits. Climate change is moving higher up the agenda, and consumers have very much turned away from single use plastics, and both suppliers and retailers who can offer products made from eco-friendly materials are likely to be rewarded with customer loyalty.
Naomi Pollard, Head of Publishing at TrendBible, explains: “This trend speaks to the rising number of eco-conscious consumers, that expect sustainable products and circular design without compromising on a fresh outlook.” With many of our visitors hailing from coastal regions – where the damage caused by plastic pollution is all-too evident – this is an especially important factor to be aware of.
In the Home and Gift sector a Modern Renaissance movement will guide the luxury side of living, with sculptural and refined aesthetics which strive towards a rebirth of culture and the arts. We can expect to see a contemporary ode to classic design and historical masterpieces shining through at the higher end of the market, albeit reinvented with modern form, styling and narrative which celebrates timeless elegance.
We hope that’s given you plenty to think about as you plan your visit to the show in January and start thinking about your merchandise plan for the year ahead. Our exhibitor list is now live, so you can start your trend-spotting early and get in the mood for shaping the shopping experience for your customers in the year ahead!