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Spotlight On... Collectables
An Emotional
Attraction Although licensed and branded merchandise continues to lead the field in the collectables marketplace, collectors are still purchasing non-licensed pieces to grow their collections, especially when it comes to animal figurines. With the market place continuing to evolve, PG&H took a look at some of the new launches for 2020.
Enesco is among the most prolific companies in the collectables market place, with marketing director Helen Cottrill highlighting that the company is continuing to see collectables growing throughout their Jim Shore and Disney collections. “In November, we hosted Jim Shore signing events across the UK, Eire, Holland, Germany and Belgium. The UK event, held in conjunction with Lords Collectables, saw Jim signing figurines for collectors for over seven hours!” She says that what surprises the company most is the demographic of the collectors. “Many are what you could refer to as millennials - lots of couples with young families,” continues Helen. “In some instances, their children are even named after their favourite character! At the signing events we previewed our new product, most of which will be available from February 2020 - A Whale of a Whale, Seashell Scenario and Amorous Amphibians - which are sure to be on these dedicated collectors’ wish lists.” As for the company’s collectors clubs, they’re continuing to thrive. Explains Helen: “We also have a very successful Friends of Peter Rabbit collectors club, with members who enjoy the annual benefits of a special Symbol of Membership figurine, the opportunity to buy members only figurines and two copies of our annual publication Hilltop Tales. We
also have dedicated social media pages. “I still believe people like to feel a part of something,” Helen adds. Staying with licensed collectables, Andrew Norman-Smith, managing director of Nemesis Now, a well-known name in rock band collectables, concurs that the everchanging face of the collectables market is being driven by licensed and branded merchandise. In 2020, the company is adding glam rock legends KISS to its portfolio, unveiling a collection of resin and printed KISS merchandise. Set to release throughout 2020, the exclusive pieces feature Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Catman, which have been created in resin drinkware, displayed in pictures and emblazoned on a range of stylish, embossed accessories. “With the band travelling the globe one last time, we felt that there was no better time to commemorate KISS’ service to rock and roll,” says Andrew. When it comes to nonlicensed collectables, Frith Sculpture/Blue Popp Art’s managing director David Wilkinson says that, like most activities, collecting is an ever changing market. “Generally speaking, consumers are no longer as
Far left: Jim Shore’s A Whale of a Whale will be available from Enesco in February. Below right: A swan in Widdop and Co’s Objets d’Art range. Bottom: A hare figurine from Frith Sculpture.
interested in religiously collecting a specific brand or subject as they once were, but will collect from a number of products to achieve how they want their house to look. Therefore, if someone particularly likes hares, or highland cattle, then products as diverse as, say, cushions, coffee mugs and sculpture can all be put together. “Another example are our cockapoo and labradoodle sculptures which have been a tremendous success. We know they are collected, but we also see other products showing different images of the same subject and they are also successful. It is to the good of us all as it helps to keep the collectables market going but not in the traditional way. Recently we introduced MINIMA - miniature works of art which are loosely based on our larger sculptures. Once again, I think people will collect what they like and mix with other product to reflect their personality.” As Sue Grant, marketing manager of Widdop and Co puts it: “The collectables market has clearly had to adapt to survive. No longer the domain of purely traditional figurines, the reach of the collectables market has broadened incorporating new and innovative categories of product. At Widdop and Co, this change in the market has been exemplified by Objets d’Art, a collectable range of hand blown glass ornaments featuring both native and wild animals along with sea life, with the appeal of the collectables stretching across the full breadth of the retail spectrum.” In 2020 new additions to the range include a swan, a mouse and a giraffe. While there’s no going back to the collectables days of old, the good news is that collectables are still holding their own, with a clear niche in the gift market place for those who still like to build their collections. Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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