49_51_53.qxp_New Grid 25/10/2019 13:27 Page 1
Spotlight On... Valentine’s Day
All You Need Is If you thought that Valentine’s Day was only for sweethearts, then think again. The good news for the gift industry is that the occasion has grown significantly, with people buying gifts for their friends and family, as well as for their partners. PG&H spoke to some leading suppliers to discover how they will be marking the occasion in 2020. Although Valentine’s Day will never be as big, or as important as Mother’s Day for gift retailers, the event is gaining ground when it comes to gifting and is becoming more inclusive. “Valentine’s Day celebrates everyone you love,” says Caroline Gardner’s independent sales manager Luca Bridges. “As an occasion, it’s evolved from people buying gifts for a boyfriend or husband, or a girlfriend or wife, into an occasion where it also works for your friends, parents and relations. For example, nowadays, daughters treat their mums to a gift and vice versa. It
has therefore become a more important occasion for the gift industry. As a company we have moved away from the red heart look to a more modern evolution of hearts, combining them with trends such as leopard print.” Piers Croke, sales director at Gisela Graham, highlights the company’s wicker hearts. “They are made for an instant Valentine’s window display and can be decorated with red
TOP DISPLAY TIP l “Look at a promotion around couples, inviting messages to be posted online or in store, with a prize for the best one. Or fill the window with message of love and sentiment.” Julian Hunt, managing director, Lesser & Pavey
ribbon, or red balloons or faux flowers. It’s one of the great advantages that gift shops have over slow-moving corporate shops being able to create an instant, topical eyecatching shop window.” Adds Piers: “We also have lots of small token gifts that are suitable for the occasion.” Commenting on the trend for women treating their female friends, Piers adds: “our shophounds tell us that Galentine’s is heading this way from US. It’s Valentine’s for girl BFFs and is celebrated on February 13, with gifts, hearts and a night out. It would seem to be another great opportunity for gift shops,” he points out. Also staying with hearts is Dunoon. “Following the success of previous heart designs, we have created Lovehearts on our Cairngorm shape, featuring two mugs in red and blue, enriched with reflective 22ct gold,” comments the company’s sales director
Above: Gisela Graham’s wicker heart. Left: Caroline Gardner’s Girl On The Go collection. Right: Lovehearts from Dunoon.
Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
49