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Father’s Day, on Sunday June 18, presents a perfect gifting opportunity for offspring of all ages and stages to treat their dad or father figure to something special. And while the occasion may not live up to the Mother’s Day spend at gift shops, there’s still an opportunity to really go to town and fly the flag for men’s gifting.

PG&H asked suppliers where the trends are when it comes to thoughtful gifting for men this year, be it for Father’s Day or at other times of the year when only a really special gift will do.

What do you buy for the man or men in your life, and especially one that seems to have everything? It’s an age old question that has perplexed gift buyers as well as gift shop owners in their quest to find that something different. A rather nice bottle of something will always be appreciated, but a bit like a bouquet of flowers, it doesn’t last very long!

So, with Father’s Day homing into view, what’s trending?

“The cost of living crisis has had an impact on what people are spending their money on, so making sure we can deliver quality, fun and usable gifts that focus on themes such as togetherness, fun and family has been our priority,” says Boxer Gifts’ managing director Thomas O’Brien. “With men in mind, our new Whiskey Tasting Set has proved to be a huge hit, which is down to the simple pleasures of the gift - the quality wood grain packaging, lowball glass and unique tasting book - a fun take on popular ‘beverage’ themed gifts. The staycation trend also looks like it’s here to stay,” Thomas continues, “with 39% of people saying they plan to stay in England for their main holiday in 2023. For Spring/Summer 2023, we are therefore releasing two fun, durable enamel camping mugs, and a hilarious All Paths pub compass, complete with rustic kraft packaging. These are ideal as fun, quality gifts for those looking to save their pennies and make the most of the UK for their holiday.”

Of course, most of us can remember that buying a pair of prosaic men’s socks as a gift for a birthday or Christmas was deemed as a rather unexciting, unadventurous choice. But wow, how things have changed! Today, colourful, jazzed-up, patterned socks for both men and women have evolved as a desirable, gift-led product, with manufacturers going all out to make not only the socks themselves stand out in a crowd of traditional black, navy and grey, but also, ensuring that they are as comfortable as possible, and sustainable too.

“Men’s bamboo socks have become a huge trend and a fashion statement for men,” concurs buyer Mary Caputo at Joe Davies. “This is due to their not only being the softest and most comfortable socks on the market but also the fact that they offer a way of expressing the wearer’s personality with the power to instantly give the person a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’!”

She continues: “They are already a popular addition to the Equilibrium fashion accessories collection from Joe Davies, with cycling, football and drinking just a few of the popular designs on offer. New designs for Spring/Summer 2023 include camouflage, rainbow and golf,” highlights Mary.

At Widdop & Co, Leoni Brown, brand design manager for gifting, says that there is increasing demand and popularity for functional gifting. “It’s about making the most use out of a gift and not having throwaway items, even down to functional packaging that can be re-used and utilised in other ways,” she points out.

“There is also a growing popularity for men’s home fragrance with sophisticated, sleek, stylish design - malefocused scents such as tobacco, cigar and cedarwood, with guys also wanting to add fragrance and refined scents to their ladpads and man-caves. Plus, our Mad Man range has a whole array of new product launching this summer, from multi-function gadgets and tools to electronics and stylish wearables. All of the tools have been carefully selected to ensure the handiest of uses, whether they’re for experienced DIYers, climbers and gardeners or for novices who need a one-fits-all handy tool with a multitude of uses.”

At Lesser & Pavey, managing director Julian Hunt says that men are possibly one of the hardest individuals to buy for, “but humour always seems to be a good theme, with two of our new ranges, Henries award winning Bewilderbeest and Bug Art, making ideal men’s gifts, as they are useful as well as practical.”

The Bewilderbeest collection feature humorous illustrations, together with a caption, across fine china mugs, drinking glasses, coasters, placemats and notebooks, with Julian adding: “the other range that would make dads smile is our Bug Art collection featuring bright, fun, cheerful illustrations spanning cushions, fine china mugs, drinking glasses, trays and ceramic coasters, as well as a range of stationery items. Additionally, for men working in, or based in London, there’s a London themed travel mug from a

Top: Widdop & Co’s Mad Man range.

Left: Bewilderbeest from Lesser & Pavey.

Above:

Right:

Fit For Purpose

With longer days and milder weather on its way, thoughts are turning to spending more time outdoors. “When it comes to men’s gifts, everything has to be very practical as men like presents they can actually use,” points out Charlotte Gillan, managing director of Classic Canes. “We are seeing a lot of demand for folding seat sticks that can be stowed in the boot of the car for picnics and other outdoor events. Equally, there is a lot of interest in formal canes as people enjoy dressing up again after being repressed by Covid. Even if it’s just a stroll by the seaside, a smart cane can add a certain joie de vivre to the occasion. We are also finding that more men are now using patterned canes, especially if it is a pattern that reflects their interests, such as birdwatching, skiing or other lifestyle-related images.” new range created by our inhouse team.”

“We’re seeing a rise in the demand for men’s gifts that are both practical and personal,” concurs PMC’s Keren Dicken, “with our personalised men’s watches fitting the category as they can have a thoughtful message engraved on the reverse, enabling the gift giver to say what they feel, such as thanking their dad for all that they do, or for engraving a thoughtful message to a loved one. The watch makes an all year round gift that can be cherished every day and for years to come.”

Male grooming has also become a core category over the years, with Mad Beauty’s creative director, Julia Cash, commenting: “With the rise in hybrid working, men need quick, easy routines which can be adapted whether they are in the office or presenting themselves over Zoom. With that in mind, grooming and gift products are becoming quite simplistic - either single items or small sets with fewer components.”

She adds that another trend is genderless or gender neutral beauty, with the company launching Mandalorian and Scooby-Doo, both unisex ranges, targeting consumers who have affinities to the shows.

With such an eclectic range of giftware that have men’s diverse lifestyles at their heart, there's no longer any excuse for retailers, or gift givers, to see men as impossible to buy for!

1: New Stylish Watch Collection

For Glen Ogal’s new watch collectionthe Astronomer series - the skies have been a magnificent source of inspiration. The range of high-quality affordable watches makes a wonderful addition to any gift or jewellery store.

Glen Ogal

T: 0131 503 0004

E: info@glenogal.com

W: www.GlenOgalTrade.com

2: Cook Up A Storm

Father’s Day is coming up, and with it comes the opportunity to spoil one of your loved ones. This means cooking their favourite meal, letting them snooze on the sofa in front of a film and treating them to some well earned presents. The Stormtrooper BBQ Master Apron is a must-have for the warmer months. Made from 100% cotton, you’ll find them as comfortable and durable, as they are fun to wear on a Sunday afternoon. For more gift ideas for Father’s Day, head over to Puckator.co.uk.

Puckator

T: 0800 0116969

E: customerservices@puckator.co.uk

W: www.puckator.co.uk

3: Stylish Travel Accessory

TechRoll is an all-in-one tech accessories set by London-based lifestyle brand Mantidy, providing functional and stylish travel accessories. The organisers include manicure sets and phone accessory kits, among other essentials, to offer the perfect travel companion.

Mantidy

T: +44 7958 675694

E: info@mantidy.co.uk

W: www.mantidy.co.uk

4: Bright And Beautiful Notebooks

Celebrate Pride Month with a ready made range from VENT for Change. The beautiful bright rainbow coloured range lends itself perfectly to celebrating for the whole of June. Just ask for your price page markers when you place your next order. VENT for Change

E: retail@ventforchange.co.uk

W: www.ventforchange.co.uk

5: Making A Difference

Looking for a new product for the increasing number of environmentally conscious customers this summer? Look no further than Thriving Earths' colourful bamboo socks. Made from organically grown bamboo, these socks not only feel great on your feet but make the world a better place with each step taken, as for every pair sold a free pair is donated to a homeless charity.

Thriving Earth

T: 01738 718719

E: info@thrivingearth.com

W: www.ThrivingEarth.com

6: Unique Paint Tin Candles For Men

Launched in autumn 2022, with unique paint-tin packaging that blends in with any workspace, our MANDLES are a great gift for men who secretly love candles. The tin emits a warm glow and invigorating masculine scent and when finished can be reused in lots of ways including storing nuts and bolts or as a plant pot. With three timeless scents to choose from, they’re a perfect gift for all the men in your life.

Sandwick Bay Candles

T: 01851 706849

E: aimee@sandwickbaycandles.com

W: www.sandwickbaycandles.com