Step-change into Christmas with Cotswold Fayre

While the company is usually hosting Christmas events across the country, this year you can watch Paul Hargreaves, chief executive at Cotswold Fayre give his Christmas highlights and recommendations for 2020 trends from the latest Cotswold Fayre Christmas Catalogue, from the comfort of your own home, here.

This year, it’s more important than ever for retailers to plan ahead and consider the type of products to stock for the festivities.  As retailers reap the benefits of new customers visiting their stores, they should look to maximise this footfall by seeking repeat purchase and consider stocking new and unusual festive products that consumers can’t find in supermarkets.

Our advice would be to create big, bold Christmas displays, think about complementary products and ranges, and get them on shelf nice and early to maximise sales!  In recent years retailers stocking larger volumes of fewer lines seems to have resulted in better sales.

To start with some food for thought, the top sellers from the 2019 Cotswold Fayre Christmas range included; Truede’s range of Marron Glaces and Turkish Delight, Sorini’s bold and colourful range of festive chocolates for recipients or all ages, gifts for tea lovers from English Tea Shop, Dean’s of Huntley’s All Butter Shortbread Rounds and Assortments featuring artist Steven Brown’s bright and colourful Highland Cow, dog and stag designs, and last but not least, the simply delicious Zaytoun Medjoul Dates!

In addition, Paul recommends the following products, offering a range of thoughtful, different gift options and items to treat the family at home from three emerging trends.

REDUCED PACKAGING
“There is of course still work to do here, but as a business we have omitted a number of products and lines from our Christmas range which we felt had excessive packaging. Montezuma’s is a great example of a brand doing just this – and as of February 2020 has changed all of its packaging to either 100% recyclable, compostable or biodegradable.”

ULTRA PREMIUM PRODUCTS
“Consumers will really want to treat themselves and loved ones, after the year we’ve all had! So, think ultra-premium, special gifts with a touch of quirky that can’t be found in mainstream retailers. For example, the perfect Italian Truffle range from La Perla, including sugar free milk and dark chocolate truffles, as well as truly indulgent Tiramisu, Honey, Ginger and Pistachio Chocolate Truffles. Think real wow-factor!”

NON-GIN SPIRITS
“For this Christmas I expect Rum to continue to drive sales, and more unusual spirits and flavours to enter the market.  Take for example Penningtons range featuring flavoured liqueurs including Gingerbread, Bakewell Gin and Kendal Mint, Keepr’s Rum Honey Rum or Espresso Vodka, and Aluna Coconut Rum. 

“But for those who just love gin, the choice for me is Orkney Gin’s range of award-winning handmade spirits, featuring bright botanicals found growing in the wild environment off the north coast of Scotland!”

In summary, consumers will no doubt be looking for those little treats that Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without; the luxury Christmas pudding like Buxton Pudding Co, an extravagant cheese board, the box of chocolates that takes up residence on the coffee table. We will still want these things, as has been proven by the rise in sales of ‘treats’ in recent weeks, when times get tough, all we want is a little pick me up.

So, while Christmas may look a little different this year, we hope this inspires you to start putting together those festive wish lists… you can download your copy of the NEW Cotswold Fayre Christmas catalogue here.

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