Have a trend-led new year (1)

BEING AWARE OF the current trends keeps your range fresh and interesting for your customer. If you have held back some budget for Spring 2020, here are some of the strongest directions for the new season.

Home

Colours on trend for SS20 include:

• Mustard Yellow - sunshine yellow was hot for autumn-winter, but it has mellowed for SS20.
• Mint, pistachio and sage green shades continue to be on trend. They are very calming and represent an eco-friendly message. Home tex-tiles will appear worn, washed-out and faded, almost as if they are recycled.
• Neutrals continue to be a core base colour palette within the home, with added highlights of turquoise (it must stand out), orange, raspberry and cornflower blue.
• Varying shades of purple from deep grape shades, through to lavender shades and mauve will be worth stocking.
• Dutch or Delft Blue has been constant for some time now. This strong shade works best with off-whites and greys, plus elements of dark wood.

Styles on trend for SS20 include:

• The Scandi theme continues, but with the Olympics being held in Japan from 24 July to 9 August, a new mood called Japandi - a fusion of Scandi & Japanese styles, colours and prints – has been created.
• Also continuing is the related-but-different Nordic theme, which is all about creating a calm, relaxing, cosy home environment that keeps you safe from the outside world. Neutral colours are warming and paired with chunky knits and rustic wood.
• Abstract design is designed to be fun and free-spirited; the interpretation is yours to make. Involving lots of colour blocking, geometric shapes, and even hand-drawn sketches, it really is down to your customer to express this in their own way. Make it bold, fun and playful for them.
• If space allows, set up a mini home display in your shop so the customer can visualise what their own home could look like by purchasing the products you have on offer. This also encourages linked and add-on sales.

Gift

Trends going into 2020 include:

• British Made is a theme continuing to grow. With companies like The Great British Exchange offering retailers the chance to buy into small independent brands that are UK-manufactured, this is a very strong message for Bira members. Worth a look!
• Personalisation will remain key. Companies like PMC (Personalised Memento Company), History & Heraldry, Royal County Products and Halligan Raby offer a huge variety of gift-ing lines, all personalised. These ranges typically are offered on a floor-standing display unit, taking up little space, and generally are priced at below £5, encouraging impulse purchases by your customers.
• Personalised gifts make for thoughtful presents that can capture a piece of the recipient’s personality or identity. They are the perfect gift to remember a special occasion or a moment in time. Personalised wedding gifts, featuring the couple’s names and the date, are on trend.
• Jewellery remains a hot category, with many suppliers now offering an affordable boxed jewellery range, ideal for gifting. Prices start at £10 generally, so it’s the perfect “gift for her”.
• Even when strapped for cash, people continue to buy gifts for kids and pets. If space is at a premium, ensure you have these two categories included in your offer.
• Creating customer experience, offering them a service second to none, and ensuring you stock what they want, will keep them coming back. Make it easy for your customer when it comes to gifting and have all gifting, cards, wrap and gift bags merchandised in the same location. If you don’t have space for large card units, use spinner stands, counter-top display units or floor-standing cardboard shippers.

Clip strip gift wrap, bags and ribbon throughout your display to encourage your customer to buy the gift, as well as all other bits they need, while shopping with you.