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Focus On... Clothing
Fashion
Forward
Today, one size clothing is the new big thing, with independent gift retailers and lifestyle stores of all shapes and sizes viewing the category as an essential, either as a reason for customers to visit or as an impulse purchase. With fashion show Moda co-locating with Autumn Fair in September, PG&H asked a selection of gift retailers to reveal what’s trending.
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ift retailer Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses Gifts in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, is about to open a standalone clothing shop - No. 43 Clothing & Accessories 300 yards from her main gift and card shop. “I started to put clothing into Hugs & Kisses just before the pandemic hit - calling it VIP Clothing - because I wanted something that would increase the spend in store, as well as offering customers another product category,” she explained. “We started with loungewear and ponchos and then added jumpers, but before we could expand the category, we found ourselves in lockdown. However, clothing has done so well for us that I’m opening a dedicated clothing and accessories shop this Autumn where we’ll also be selling blouses and shirts, tops and T-shirts, dresses, Magic Trousers, shorts and leggings, skirts and jumpsuits, jackets and cardigans, as well as knitwear, which are all currently available on our website. Everything is one size, and our expansion plans include offering footwear this year. However, until the doors of No. 43
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Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
Above: A striking blue poncho from Cadenza. Left: An easy to wear, casual top from Made in Italy. Below: Chalk’s popular ‘star’ top.
open, customers are being invited to private viewings at my home.” Also emphasising the importance of clothing in her Rayleigh gift store, Lovely Libby’s, is owner Libby Holden. “During lockdown it was a massively important category,” she stressed. “We found that buying clothing was a release for our customers, making them happy during such a tough time. They bought clothes for themselves as well as for their friends.” She continued: “Everything we offer is one size - it’s good for all ages, shapes and sizes - and brands we do well with include Chalk, LV Clothing and Terminal One. However, our best selling item of the year has to be Magic Trousers. We’ve literally sold thousands of them, and as for jeans and leggings, we literally can’t keep them in stock!” It’s a similar story from Libby’s mum, Tracy Holden who owns gift shop The Olive Branch in Billericay. “We introduced clothes
at the start of the pandemic and discovered that they are a great attraction, making a brilliant extra add on as it’s an impulse purchase for most customers. For example, when someone comes in to buy a gift and sees a top or a jumper that they love, they can’t seem to resist buying it at the same time. Everything we sell is one size, including trousers.”
