DESTINATION SPRING FAIR - Gift Focus magazine

RULE BRITANNIA
“The Union Jack/British heritage tea
party theme with a twist, is going to be
popular, especially due to the Olympics
and Jubilee being just around the corner.
Colours are red, white and blue, with sprinkles of
ditzy spots. Product wise, tea cups and saucers, cake
stands and tea pots are proving popular along with
children’s baking products (kids in the kitchen not on the Xbox – hurrah)!”
Clare Farthing, marketing and public relations manager, Creative Tops
www.creative-tops.com
“Our prediction is that 2012 will be all about Great British
brands. The eyes of the world will be on Britain and quintessential
Britishness so in readiness we have geared up three of our
definitive British brands – Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear and
Wallace & Gromit. Looking ahead to later in the year we’ll be
focussing on the great British classic and Christmas favourite
The Snowman.
“There is longevity, heritage and history behind the
Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear brands and we’ve
carried the Union Jack through to the new Peter Rabbit
in Union Jack Bag and the Paddington in Union Jack Bag.
Wallace & Gromit is a more contemporary and current brand
which represents Britishness through its innovation and the
characters’ quirky inventions.
“With such great brands, Rainbow is uniquely placed in the
classic character market and ready to tap into all that 2012
will bring in terms of a boost in tourism and gift purchases.”
Anthony Temple, managing director, Rainbow Designs
www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk
“With the national fever for everything
British around the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee and London 2012 we expect that
the Union Flag and everything red, white
and blue to continue as a big theme next
year. We have specific commemorative
items ready for the royal event and have
a complete collection of London 2012
gifts under our license arrangement with
LOCOG. We also have launched purely
decorative pieces using the colours of our
national flag including a range of Union
Jack Flower Bottle vases.”
Rachel Digger, Dartington Crystal
www.dartington.co.uk
Union Jack paperweight
“It sounds a bit obvious but the trend for
2012 will be “All Things British” and, perhaps
more pertinently, “Proud to be British”. The
Union Jack as a design element has been
trending high for a couple of years now but
will come to a peak in 2012 because of the
Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. Jan
Constantine was one of the first designers
to capture this mood perfectly in her Pop
Art Union Jack collection back in 2007 and
Blueprint is proud to have recently launched
a selection of Jan Constantine stationery,
tinware and bags (brand new for 2012)
featuring these designs to celebrate all things
British in what will be a very important year
for our nation.”
Helen Webster, licensing and marketing
director, Blueprint Collections
www.blueprintcollections.co.uk
giftfocus 21
trends 2012