Party wear is all about sparkle this year, while most people will be gifting vouchers and chocolate, according to new festive research by Irish retailer Penneys.
Christmas sales across Penneys’ 16 countries are already up 33 per cent year-on-year, with partywear, festive bedding, hand and tea towels, Christmas jumpers and Fam Jams looking to be early customer favourites.
Bricks and mortar retailers are set to benefit from festive footfall, with just over a third (35 per cent ) of shoppers saying they are more likely to do their Christmas shopping in-store this year. Local enterprise is also set for a spending boost with six in 10 (62 per cent ) shoppers hoping to buy gifts from Irish businesses, and almost seven in 10 (68 per cent ) confirming that they plan to buy Irish food as much as possible for their festive feasts.
The research also revealed that vouchers (60 per cent ), chocolates (50 per cent ), beauty products (45 per cent ), books (44 per cent ) and jewellery (38 per cent ) are the top five gifts that people are planning to buy for family or friends this year. Almost a third (28 per cent ) of shoppers are also considering foregoing giving a gift and making a donation to charity instead, with another four in 10 (38 per cent ) thinking about gifting an experience instead of a physical present.
Penneys’ research has also revealed that the Irish public plan to be more environmentally conscious this Christmas, with just over a third of adults confirming they are considering purchasing more sustainable gifts, and a fifth of shoppers also revealing they are thinking about gifting pre-owned items as gifts for loved one this Christmas.
When it comes to wrapping, 42 per cent of people are cutting back and said that they will either forego wrapping paper or reuse what they saved from last year. Tapping into this trend, the Penneys iconic paper bag has undergone its annual festive makeover, with the bags doubling up as free and easily recyclable Christmas wrapping paper.
Party wear
Forget gold — party wear this Christmas sees silver take centre stage as metallics have their moment. Primark’s second collection with Rita Ora has just launched and features a pair of statement silver jeans that are the perfect oufit to go from day to night, while silver statement jewellery and bags will pull together any look.
Ever-popular black is also evident, with elevated tailoring and plenty of sparkle. Rita Ora’s second collection also goes glam, with silver and black as hero colours throughout, with pops of on-trend red. Metallic knitwear and faux fur coats will also keep fashion lovers warm in the winter months.
Time to shine
Christmas hair and make-up is all about glossy skin, glittering eyes, and big bouncy blow-outs (without the heat damage ), as customers look to emulate the Studio 54 era of the 1970s. Nearly 40 per cent of Irish shoppers said that beauty and bath products were a typical part of their Christmas gift list, with hero products including heatless curlers, individual glitter eyeshadows, lip oils and bronzing drops, while Primark’s Up All Night setting spray will be essential for taking a make-up look from the office to the dance floor.
Christmas comforts
The rise of Fam Jams continues with sales of matching pyjamas for families already up 17 per cent on last year, Penneys is expecting to see more people embrace the matching trend this year.
Another must-have that has emerged in recent years, the Primark’s Snuddie™ has become a category all to itself, as entire families have snapped one up to keep warm and cosy at home. This year, just in time for visiting friends and family, the Snuddie has had a travel upgrade with 23 new styles and a built-in bag.
The Christmas range is available in Penneys stores across Ireland now. For more information or to check store availability, visit www.primark.ie
