Spotlight On... Christmas 2021

Making Merry

If you haven’t come across gonks yet, you will this Christmas! They’re the ‘big thing’ in Christmas decorations - Scandi-inspired mythological creatures considered to be a Nordic version of Santa Claus. Faceless, they’re easy to spot with their long white beards and pointy knitted hats!

But, of course, that’s not all that’s going to be trending. With traditional red and greens still strong, and icy white and silver working its magic, PG&H went in search of what else will be making Christmas a magical one this year.

According to the trend forecasters, ‘togetherness’ is, unsurprisingly, going to be the buzzword this Christmas, as families and friends will - fingers crossed! - at last be able to ‘make merry’ and celebrate the festive season together.

For most, it will be an extra special celebration, with hosts and hostesses really pulling out all the stops when it comes to creating the nostalgia of Christmases past, with much loved family decorations dusted off and brought out of their boxes and new ones added, while scented candles, wax melts and reed diffusers will be helping to evoke the familiar Christmassy fragrances that we all know and love.

For those who like to trend spot, there could also be a rather special addition to the guest list! “Gonks are a big trend this Christmas,” highlights Joe Davies’ head of product development Laura Leigh. “These quirky little fellows are Danish Nordic characters that are said to watch over the home. We’ve introduced Skandi style gonks in soft pinks and greys, following on from the success of our jolly spotty gonks in traditional Christmas red. They make the perfect Christmas decoration and gift to dress a mantelpiece, window or the Christmas table. Styles range from from shelf sitters and standing tall to fat gonks.”

Meanwhile, Laura says that warm and cosy are the main trends for Christmas 2021, with the company ensuring their gift products give the home a toasty warm feeling. “There’s nothing cosier than the glow of Christmas lights,” continues Laura. “Our Village Pottery range includes traditional red village houses as tea light holders, lanterns and brand new oil warmers, ensuring the home can smell like Christmas and glow with the lights of candles. Each piece has a unique vintage, craft look finish and, in keeping with the light up theme, there is a new collection of festive rattan decorations with warm white LED lights to brighten the home at Christmas.”

The collection has been made to look festive, with pine cone details, red berries, gold colourway and luxury gold bows. “There are different shaped wreaths for the front door, while, for the table, hearth and mantelpiece there are cone shaped Christmas trees and a light-up parcel shape, as well as hearts and stars for hanging on the wall. These decorations are sure to bring a festive charm to shop displays as well as to homes,” adds Laura.

Meanwhile, gonks are also a staple in this year’s Gallery Christmas offer. “To add a fun touch to the festive season, Gallery’s gonks make a cute addition to any interior,” says Chris Lewis, head of sales & business development (Accessories). “The popularity of these amusing Scandinavian characters is gaining momentum here in the UK as they

Right: Village Pottery from Joe Davies. Below: Joe Davies’ Skandi style gonks. Above: Three gonks from the Gallery Direct range. Below: Among the Gallery Direct Christmas themes this year is frosty whites and silvers.

are ideal for perching on shelves or furniture to brighten a room and to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

For Christmas 2021, Gallery Direct has introduced several themes to suit different tastes and interior styles. Ranging from nostalgic pieces and traditional colours that create a warm family feel, reminiscent of happy times gone by, other key trends feature frosty whites and silvers that create a winter wonderland look and feel; luxe candy pinks and golds, with rich mineral hues and striking sparkly accents; a gold collection featuring shimmering glitter and gold, and a blue and green story to add a touch of natural charm.

Of course, traditional colours too, are continuing to trend. “Christmas is a very traditional festival so it comes as no surprise that traditional colours and themes are proving as strong as ever - red and gold and the Scandinavian look,” says Gisela Graham’s sales director Piers Croke. “But we’re finding blues and greens are making ground, and purples too. We always feature a white frosty look in our collection,” he adds, “which this year is called Winter Dreams. The sheer white is offset with a touch of purple in the Crocus Fairies dresses, where we’re optimistically looking ahead to April. But our customers and consumers always expect us to spring some surprises, and we’ve risen to the challenge. For Christmas 2021 we have designed some very off-the-wall collections which have been very warmly received by the trade.”

Of course, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without familiar festive imagery, with Lesser & Pavey among the companies bringing out new Christmas-themed products in the company’s Desire home fragrancing collection. Examples include a new silver satin finish on aroma lamps, humidifiers and plug in aroma lamps, with designs featuring angel wings, a fairy, tree of life, stars, butterflies and feathers, along with a dream catcher. “We have designed a range that projects the images of Christmas, with a white light and traditional fragrances sold as accessories to allow for fragrance preferences,” explains director Johnny Greves. The fragrance of Christmas continues in the company’s Desire range of candles, in gold, red, green and white glass surrounds, along with lids and tassels. “The striking new range of diffusers have been specially created for the festive season with designs, colours, and fragrances to enhance the home,” says Johnny. Other Christmas ranges have been designed specifically for the festive table to include enjoying a drink with family and friends. Traditional tabletop includes new hand painted glassware range by Lynsey Johnstone, as well as a range of snowy scenes, captured in glassware. Other festive imagery shows Santa delivering presents under the Christmas tree and a robin in the snow.

As Deborah Bettinson, PR manager (B2B) at Ashleigh & Burwood points out: “there is always a streak of tradition flowing through fragrances, colours and concepts at Christmas time. This year, the traditional festive red colourway is bolstered by midnight blue and offset with cool silver and sage green.”

Adds Deborah: “Festive fragrances also have a strong gourmand influence as so many of our Christmas memories are bound up in the foods we enjoy at this time of year.

Memorable Christmas fragrances include spicy and sweet notes such as cinnamon, clove, caramel, vanilla and nutmeg for a warming combination. With notes of orange, clove and vanilla we’re launching Christmas Spice, one of our best loved Christmas scents, in a host of new product formats this season including two new home scenting gift sets.”

Candlelight meanwhile, is focusing on the earthy and natural. “Our Apothecary range is ready for the Christmas period, with deep glass vessels and natural cork lids,” highlights E-commerce and marketing manager Kate Winch. “It features three aromatic fragrances - Midnight Pomegranate, Orient and Amber and Honey Blossom - with each one created to complement the style of the range.”

From gonks to room settings, and from fairies to fragrance, it’s getting to feel a lot like Christmas!

Above: Among the new tree decorations in Gisela Graham’s Flower Fairy collection. Left: Lesser & Pavey’s Christmas-themed satin Aroma lamps.

Festive Fun & Games

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without playing games, with Gift Republic confirming that consumers are expressing a desire to purchase more board games, escape rooms and murder mysteries.

“For this coming Christmas, we’ve developed a series of 80s and 90s-themed escape rooms that transport people back to their favourite decades,” confirms senior designer Stephen Grace.

“We’ve also noticed how much people love and want to spoil their pets so we’ve developed a doggie bath bomb so that pooches can be pampered after a long walk in the park.”

Right: Escape the ‘90s from Gift Republic. Left: Ashleigh & Burwood’s festive scent, Christmas Spice, is available in a new threepiece gift set. Below: Candlelight’s new Apothecary collection.