Season's Greetings

From all of us at My Fashion Connect Global.

Have a festive and joyful Christmas season!

Festive decor in the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong, December 2018. Photo by Alan Tyler.

 Deloitte reports record pre-Christmas discounts in the UK

According to Deloitte business services and research specialists, discounting during this pre-Christmas season is at record levels in the UK, having had analysed 800,000 products while revealing that discounts is on average around 44%, and possibly rising to 48% by Christmas eve, well ahead of the traditional clearance period.

Deloitte is expecting discounts to hit on average 52% from Boxing Day.

The experts feel that the recent mild weather has affected consumers' buying appetite for merchandise associated with the cold such as coats and boots, as well as knitwear which are traditionally desirable gifts.

 "We expect retailers to ramp up their discounting

 earlier than normal in an attempt to clear stock.”

Deloitte also said that the markdowns stores have applied as a result of the weak Autumn/winter 2018 season are spread "very wide" across the market.

Jason Gordon, Deloitte's lead consumer analytics partner, has reported that in recent years consumers have come to expect retailers to heavily discount products in the lead-up to Christmas which this year will fall on a Tuesday.  This means the shopping season will be shorter as consumers will use the preceding weekend to travel, thus resulting in potentially fewer crucial trading days for retailers. 

Hong Kong's Winter Sky lit up for its first Pulse Light Festival

There is no better time to visit Hong Kong than this winter, so says the Hong Kong tourism authorities.  And  so here I am just when the temperature starts to drop, dipping ever so slightly from mid-20s to the high-teens.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is launching the inaugural Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival 2018, running between 29 November 2018 and 24 February 2019, covering the Christmas season, New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations.

The first Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival turns the city harbourfront 

into a playground of luminous artworks.  Photo from the Hong Kong Tourist Board.

It is billed to be the largest open-air light festival in this vibrant cosmopolitan city.  From the enhancement of “A Symphony of Lights” light-and-music show featuring more skyscrapers and special effects, to brilliantly lit installations by artists from  11 countries including France, Italy, Japan, Israel, Singapore, Hungary, the US and India, along with four createdby Hong Kong designers.  

The HK$23 million (USD2.939 m) festival is expected to draw about 500,000 visitors to the Central district harbourfront, according to organisers at the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)  

If you are able to come to this amazing city this winter, you will be treated to a list of visually enriching events:- 

Winter Wonderland

A total of 18 art installations by artists from around the world will be on display along the beautiful Victoria Harbour.   

The creative luminescent displays offer a futuristic interactive experience in addition to Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, including: The brilliant cephalic illustration “Talking Heads” by Viktor Vicsek from Hungary will come to life via animated facial expressions that change colours at night. Interactive light bicycles “Lightbattle X” by VENIVIDIMULTIPLEX from the Netherlands will be on display for spectators to immerse themselves in a competitive and warm-spirited racing game; whereas the premiere exhibition of “Bat and Coin” by the Daydreamers from Hong Kong turns the traditional pawnshop sign into a larger-than-life illuminated silhouette. 

Bright Skies Ahead 

Dubbed as the one of the world’s most spectacular light shows, “A Symphony of Lights” is a nightly light show along Victoria Harbour for this Christmas and New Year. The additional skyscrapers participating in the coordinated production and pyrotechnics from building rooftops adding highlights to the show on selected evenings will usher in the holiday season.  

A Tale of Two Trees 

A 25-metre-tall artistic reinterpretation of the traditional Christmas tree will be installed adjacent to the Observation Wheel. The “XTree” by France’s 1024 Architecture is made with lit-up metallic scaffoldings that represent branches, and augmented by strategically placed light decorations that dance to a matching soundtrack.  Hong Kong’s Christmas atmosphere is further enhanced by the much-anticipated iconic Christmas Tree at Statue Square, enticing visitors with its sparkling festive display.

Along with a range of magical winter celebration activities taking place at key attractions across the city, festive seasonal events and night tours, these festivities promise to spice up visitors’ holiday season with an unforgettable visual voyage in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Pulse Light Festival Event Information 

Key Activities	Date & Time	Location
International Light Art Display	29 November 2018 – 24 February 2019 Lights on at 5:00pm – 11:00pm daily (except on 29 November 2018 - 7:45pm – 11:00pm)	Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section)
A Symphony of Lights	Enhanced version from 29 November 2018 onwards, 8:00pm – 8:10pm daily Pyrotechnic display on 29 November, 1, 8, 12, 15, 22, 29 December 2018	Best vantage location in Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and night cruise tours
Christmas Tree	29 November 2018 – 1 January 2019 Lights on at 5:00pm – 11:00pm daily (except on 29 November 2018 - 7:45pm – 11:00pm)	Near Hong Kong Observation Wheel
Iconic Christmas Tree	29 November 2018 – 1 January 2019	North Statue Square, Central

Some Christmas retail cheer: Mintel forecasts growth of 4% for UK sales in December

With the Christmas countdown in full swing, retail researchers Mintel is forecasting some festive cheer for Britain’s retailers. Latest findings predicts that December’s retail sales will reach £47.7 billion (incl. VAT), growing a respectable 4% compared to last December, when sales hit £45.8 billion.  

Coal Drops Yard new shopping mall - a stunning new favourite retail destination in King's Cross, London, near Granary Square. 

Photos © Lucia Carpio

Sales through non-food retailers are expected to reach £23.5 billion (including £4 billion from online sales generated by physical stores); while food retailers will enjoy sales of £18.6 billion (including £1.4 billion from online sales generated by physical stores). And in the battle between the clicks and bricks, Mintel estimates that internet pure players (online only retailers), will account for £5.6 billion worth of sales.

Mintel December 2018 retail forecast: Non-food retailers (stores + online)  £23.5 bn Food retailers (stores + online)  £18.6 bn Online pure players  £5.6 bn  Total  £47.7 bn With online sales generated by physical non-food and food stores estimated to hit £5.4 billion, combined with the £5.6 billion generated by internet pure players, Mintel expects total online sales this December will be worth £11 billion.   Caravane, one of the upmarket retail shops in Coal Drops Yard, King's Cross, London Richard Perks, Director of Retail Research at Mintel, said: “We think that retailers can look forward to a reasonably good Christmas—not outstanding, but it won’t be bad either. While there are some reasons to be cautious, such as falling consumer confidence, there is no real sign of an underlying slowdown in retail sales growth. Retail sales have held up well this year and we expect the recent momentum is likely to be maintained, with retail sales growing at about 4% both in the final quarter of 2018 and in December itself. “While there’s been much talk of how the High Street is being undermined by online retailing, it still only represents a relatively small part of overall retail sales, with most shopping still taking place in physical stores.” Black Friday still stokes interest, but most Brits think discounts are overhyped Black Friday is now well and truly entrenched in the shopping calendar. According to Mintel research, last year nearly six in ten (57%) Brits browsed for goods during Black Friday promotions, while 41% made a purchase during the event. It’s proving a big hit with the nation’s 25-34s, of whom 75% said they browsed for goods and 62% made a purchase. While Black Friday has been synonymous with scenes of crowding bargain hunters, last year just 16% of Brits engaged with the event in-store, with the majority of shoppers engaging online  (56%). Electrical goods were the most  popular purchase, bought by 51% of Black Friday consumers in 2017, followed by fashion, which was purchased by 42% of these consumers. Overall, half (51%) of last year’s Black Friday shoppers said the majority of the purchases they made during the promotions were Christmas gifts. Meanwhile, a savvy six in ten (61%) Black Friday shoppers said they waited for the Black Friday promotions before making a purchase. However, despite the hype, some cynics remain as 66% of 2017 Black Friday shoppers felt the discounts were not as good as they’re made out to be. “While Black Friday has become a high profile retail fixture, retailers do run the risk of bringing forward festive spending, but at discounted prices. There is always a fear of missing out, so the actual outcome is the big unknown for how the retail sector will perform this Christmas. Given some evidence of growing disillusionment among shoppers for Black Friday, Mintel predicts that retailers would like to pull back from promotions for this event. We think that this year’s event will be no bigger than last year’s, and that means good news for the amount of money left over to spend in December.” Concluded Richard.

Photos by Lucia Carpio.

Mintel announces three global food and drink trends for 2019

At this time of the year, food and drinks are very much on our minds, as we’re deciding on the menu for our Christmas lunch, or even the venue that offers the best festive food options for our company Christmas party.

Whatever we plan to do, will issues of sustainability, health and wellness,  one way or another, guide our decisions?  Recent reports point to the growing popularity of a Vegan lifestyle and that millennials are going teetotal.  Definitely festive celebrations are not as straight forward as it used to be.

Co-op Winter Dessert Collection.  The Co-op was the first, and continues to be, the only UK retailer to have 100% Fairtrade chocolate bar range. This winter they’re going all out with some spectacular festive flavours including sticky toffee pudding, double chocolate fondant and Christmas pudding chocolate treats.

According to Mintel, a leading market intelligence agency, three forward-looking trends which will lead the momentum of global food and drink innovation in 2019 and beyond in that issues of sustainability, health and wellness, and convenience will inspire formulation, packaging, marketing and more in the years to come:

In Mintel’s 2019 Global Food and Drink Trends report, the three trends revealed are as follows:-  

Evergreen Consumption: A circular view of sustainability that spans the entire product lifecycle requires action from suppliers to consumers.   

Through the Ages: Food and drink will build on today’s dialogue about wellness and transition into more solutions for healthy ageing. 

Elevated Convenience: To match the premium expectations of consumers in the on-demand age, convenience food and drink will get an upgrade.

La Riojana Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec available at Waitrose. La Riojana’s Tilimuqui wine is grown in the remote north of Argentina where arid soils give rise to grapes bursting with ripeness. This is an intense Malbec that is a great accompaniment to any Christmas dinner, or to savour over cheese on a wonderful winter night!

Looking ahead, Jenny Zegler, Associate Director, Mintel Food and Drink, said: 

“In 2019, support of and demand for more corporate sustainability programmes will grow as consumers better understand what’s required to get closer to achieving a truly circular food and drink economy. These sustainability efforts will include not only improving access to recycling, but creating products with ingredients that are grown in accordance to regenerative agriculture practices.

“Expect to also see food and drink manufacturers look to the beauty and personal care industry for inspiration for healthy ageing product development. More food and drink will address longevity-related health concerns, be marketed with positive language that rejects terms like ‘anti-ageing’ for its negative connotations, and appeal across ages.   

The All Dark Vegan Chocolate Hamper Collection from Hotel Chocolat this Christmas.

“Finally, we predict the rising segment of consumers who are often on-the-go, yet want to spend more time at home will increase demand for upscale, ‘speed scratch’ solutions and restaurant-quality, ready-to-consume products. As meal kits and foodservice-inspired beverages lead the way, there will also be more opportunities for brands to develop healthy, flavourful, customisable, and quick premium convenience products for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert occasions.”