Gift Focus - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 117)

24 I can only see the public’s appetite for eco-friendly products increasing in 2020 and as a company Xystos is well placed to meet this demand. At a time when traditional glass jar candle sales appear to be declining, end-users will continue to seek out more flameless fragrance solutions and turn to nature. That’s why Xystos will be working hard next year to remain in the vanguard of suppliers that protect the environment. We can help to achieve that by dealing in products that use less plastic packaging. One of our partners that will lead the way in this respect is Winter in Venice, which is renowned for its pampering products and hand-finished reusable gifting ideas. Opposing all forms of animal testing, it was one of the first UK brands to remove parabens from its natural products, which are enriched with various butters, oils, vitamins and fruit extracts. Winter in Venice also cleverly reuses packaging such as jewellery cases, hat boxes and wooden cabinets. It claims over 90 per cent repeat customer purchase: in these challenging times I’m sure our retailers will be delighted if they can achieve that in 2020! And we will also go into the New Year proudly partnering with another bath and body business whose ethos is embodied in its name, Faith in Nature. Its ‘Made in England’ products are vegan and cruelty-free. With 100 per cent natural fragrance, they’re supplied, where possible, in recycled bottles, which can be refilled, while the hand soaps can either be bought wrapped or unwrapped. Although I’m not claiming that Xystos foresaw what a massive trend this would be, we have had The Naked Bee in our portfolio for a number of years. Its slogan, ‘All of the good stuff, none of the bad stuff’ succinctly sums up its product ethos, while Di Palomo’s offering – again made in England – is also free from parabens and harsh chemicals. With flameless fragrance solutions right on trend, the success of our own Cello ultrasonic diffusers, electric melt burners and lamps is a further illustration of changing times. We’ll be developing lots of own brand product in 2020 in the knowledge that there will be no reversal of the eco- friendly trend. All this will complement our luxury bathing company and Boutique with Love, pampering ranges from Grace Cole, Himalayan salt lamps, Shearer Candles and homewares from Splosh. Product that is ‘new, new, new,’ is what retailers are demanding and Xystos will be giving them just that at Spring Far and throughout the coming year. Tom Sykes Director, Xystos xystostrade.co.uk What gift lines will be big in 2020? Tying into the industry’s continued focus on sustainable products, we’re expecting to see more growth in hydration lines for 2020. Calls for more responsible and less wasteful use of plastic won’t be going away any time soon, so retailers can expect to see continued demand for more environmentally-friendly drinks bottles. Not only are they sustainable but they also make for the perfect gift. As many of us continue to lead hectic and crammed lives, we often don’t make enough time to connect with friends and family. Increasingly this is creating a demand for gifts that drive more meaningful connections; gifts that give us an excuse to have friends round and socialise more. Recently this has been demonstrated through growth in the adult board game and drinking games markets. As we all spend less time and money on going out, this space only looks set to grow in 2020 with people looking for more economical ways to enjoy their free time. At Spring Fair in February next year we’ll be looking forward to seeing the likes of Clarendon Games, Big Potato and Wild & Wolf bring their fantastic ranges for visitors to come and try out. As Disney franchises like Marvel and Star Wars continue to dominate at the box office – and on the small screen – we also expect to see a huge demand for licensed gifts and toys in the months ahead. Are there any themes that are about to be huge? I’d expect to see some of the biggest growth in the giftable food and bakeware equipment categories. As more people come on board with more ethically-conscious ways of thinking about food, I’d expect to see a boom in vegan, palm oil-free and organic products. Artisan and craft also look set to continue being a strong profit driver given the ongoing interest in the craft brewing and distilling sectors. Of course, strongly linked to the continued success of craft gin, beer and non-alcoholic spirits, is the demand for quality glassware and associated goods. Consumers keen to recreate the tastes and spectacles they enjoy at their favourite bars and restaurants are increasingly looking for specialist utensils and cookware, and I expect this to be a continued hit in 2020. Another strong performer that doesn’t look to be going anywhere is the hugely profitable home fragrance sector. Candles, diffusers and room sprays are incredibly viable products for any retailer to sell and continue to dominate the gift market. They’re fast becoming bestsellers for all retailers ranging from discount outlets to high-end boutiques. At Spring Fair 2020 we’ll be embracing this trend with some key players in this space exhibiting, including Aery, Sandy Bay London and Vanilla Blanc. Dan Goodban Head of Contemporary Gift at Spring Fair springfair.com