Retro trends, preppy and Brat Girl fashions and travel returning to pre-covid levels were among the biggest influences on our shopping habits.
That's according to John Lewis's annual trend report How We Shop, Live and Look, which looks at the products and trends that defined the past year.
'Social shopping' is definitely in fashion. One in five (19 percent) of the 1,996 customers surveyed said they have shopped more with friends and family this year, and nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) of them said they like to combine it with other activities like eating out. This tallies with John Lewis data, which shows that more than three quarters of a million more customers ate in its Place to Eat restaurants over the past year.
Posted: 17 December 2024
Due to the hugely successful STABILO and Anya Hindmarch collaboration, both brands have now announced that the collection is being reproduced and will be stocked for a further year. STABILO is known across the globe for its high quality, bold designs with exceptional colour variety and its range with Anya Hindmarch certainly nods to its rich history. We're pleased it's here to stay!
Posted: 10 December 2024
Stock buying lists at the ready; Pantone, the global colour authority and provider of professional colour language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. An evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires: cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort. "Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence" says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute. Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, it extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe; presenting a discrete and tasteful touch of glamour."
Posted: 6 December 2024
Hyve Group has announced an expansion of Spring Fair, with the addition of Pure from February 2025.
The Pure brand will transition to Spring Fair at Birmingham NEC to sit alongside Moda to create Moda x Pure. The strategic refocus will mark the conclusion of Pure London x JATC as a standalone event at London Olympia.
The move aims to strengthen Spring Fair's position as a destination for the fashion sector, driven by evolving market conditions and the desire for a more integrated buying space for fashion retailers. Spring Fair already attracts more relevant London-based buyers, making it a natural fit for this transition.
The move ensures that Pure's legacy continues, in a format that better meets the needs of today's fashion industry.
Posted: 5 December 2024
Gift cards are proving to be a game-changer for retailers, offering a dual advantage of attracting new customers and driving incremental spend. Brands participating in multistore gift card schemes or offering their own gift cards are reaping the rewards, particularly from younger demographics like Millennials, who are embracing gift cards for their convenience and flexibility.
The latest research from the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) and Global Data highlights how gift cards are effective tool for channeling consumer behaviour by not only introducing new shoppers to brands but also encouraging them to 'upgarde' their purchase beyond the card's value.
Posted: 4 December 2024
Spring Fair, the UK's leading Home, Gift, and Fashion trade show taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has announced an impressive line-up of industry leading bellwether brands making the show the largest and most comprehensive marketplace in the UK with over 1,200 exhibitors and over 30,000 visitors expected to shop the whole show for their next best sellers.
As retailers in the UK become adept at leveraging product diversification to differentiate themselves and maintain competitiveness in an ever-evolving market, the scale and breadth of Spring Fair meets their needs in sourcing products from across all the show destinations.
Posted: 2 December 2024
Fashion retailers could be in for bumper sales this Black Friday after new figures show the sector is expected to see the biggest uplift in web traffic this year.
Digital PR agency Tank analysed keywords for over 150 retailers from November 2023 to October 2024 to reveal which companies and products are set to dominate search results – putting them in poll position to generate sales on 29 November.
It comes following growing criticism that Google updates are directing more online traffic to news sites with affiliate links, rather than retailers' pages – potentially disadvantaging even big brands. However, with Google announcing a November core update on Monday 11 November, businesses will be paying an even closer eye on visibility and traffic in the coming weeks.
Posted: 27 November 2024
Art licensing and design studio The London Studio has announced a collaboration with Parisian fashion-house Olympia Le-Tan® for an exciting new range of high-end clutches and designer evening bags. These stylish accessories will feature designs from The London Studio's new retro-inspired brand called Dreamadelic.
The range will be previewed during Paris Fashion Week, an annual week-long fashion industry event where the latest collections are highlighted in runway fashion shows to buyers and the media. Paris Fashion Week takes place from 23-29 January 2025. The launch into retail is planned for fall-winter 2025, a fashion season that takes place between summer and autumn.
Posted: 25 November 2024
Christmas spending is set to hit £88.29bn this year as consumers boost spending on festive celebrations after years of Christmas cutbacks.
VoucherCodes.co.uk's Shopping for Christmas Report 2024 forecasts a 4 percent boost in sales this festive season, with consumers spending on gifts, food and drink, and holiday travel.
Whilst this rise comes partly from inflation, it's also driven by a 1.4 percent rise in sales volume year-on-year, as consumers have more money in their pockets to buy more items.
Whereas other European nations will see a decline in spend YoY, the UK is the only nation out of seven analysed to see a healthy boost in festive sales.
Posted: 11 November 2024
Spring Fair, the UK's leading Home, Gift, and Fashion retail trade show taking place from 2nd – 5th February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has launched a competition to win a 2-night stay during the show to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Register for Spring Fair 2025 by November 13th to be one of two lucky winners to receive a two night hotel stay at one of the show's exclusive hotel partners.
Posted: 8 November 2024
