Analysis: Top Christmas gifts predicted by retailers

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Food

After a year in which some big grocers suffered during the horse meat scandal, supermarkets will make quality the key factor this Christmas.

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has caused a stir with his Christmas pudding tie-ups with upmarket grocer Waitrose in recent years and doesn’t disappoint this year. The quirky cook has devised the Hidden Chocolate Christmas Pudding that oozes chocolate from the centre.

Not to be outdone, Asda is offering a Christmas pudding made using a traditional steaming process with vine fruits, glacé cherries, almonds, walnuts and Marc de Champagne.

Asda and Sainsbury’s have identified an unusual battleground - Wensleydale cheese. Asda is to sell its Extra Special smoked Wensleydale made from milk produced in the Yorkshire Dales and naturally smoked for 18 hours using oak chips. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s is offering a sweet alternative of Wensleydale with fig and salted caramel.

Marks & Spencer expects its Cornish Cruncher and Cider Bake to do well in light of the popularity of cheese bakes, and chocolate sprouts were a Christmas show favourite. Sainsbury’s has also identified a trend for making Christmas food gifts at home, and is giving shoppers advice on how to create their own pickled pears and chilli vodka.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman added: “Spanish and caramelised orange and cranberry are our big flavour trends, going across lots of food areas from condiments to fish to bakery lines.”

Toys

Technology-integrated children’s toys are everywhere this Christmas. New versions of kids’ tablets the LeapFrog LeapPad and its rival InnoTab 3, which features on Debenhams’ top 10 Christmas toys list, are sure to be festive winners.

But Hamleys believes robotic pets, such as the Teksta dog - also tipped by Argos - will be high on the wish lists in letters to Father Christmas this year. The futuristic dog responds to hand gestures and voice and can learn tricks including a backflip. Hamleys says Robo Fish will also be a key stocking filler. It has already become one of the fastest-selling toys of all time because of its realistic movements - it swims, dives down to feed and rises to the surface.

Disney’s offer includes a new video game, Disney Infinity, which allows players to put real-world toy versions of their favourite characters on to a device called the Infinity Base which then transports them into the virtual worlds of franchises including Monsters University, The Incredibles and Cars. Meanwhile, its StoryLight Mickey light connects to iPads to help bring ebooks to life.

More traditional toys still have their place under the Christmas tree, including Lego sets - also on Argos’ top toys list -and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games that feature across retailers’ offers. Dolls will also be big sellers. Hamleys flags the Monster High Dolls, while Disney’s I Love Minnie doll and the figurines from its new animated adventure Frozen are predicted to be popular.

Shop Direct expects the follow-up to last year’s coveted gift the Furby to be among its best-sellers.

Group product director Karl Doyle says: “This time around, it comes complete with a content-filled app that allows you to hatch and take care of a virtual Furby. Hours of fun for all the family.”

For those looking for a more extravagant gift for their little cherubs, traditional toys from Fortnum & Mason might be an option. They are made in Erzgebirge, Germany and retail from £1,300 to £2,700.

Health and Beauty

Superdrug has an array of own-brand lines to woo Christmas shoppers.

Its Colour Unlimited collection of make-up, which this year comes with pink faux snakeskin and metallic fabric accessories, is tipped to be a top seller.

Its professional make-up collection, Studio London, which has all the tools, tips and instructions to crack winter looks, is also on the health and beauty retailer’s Christmas winners list.

For mums, the Forever Yours fragrance collection, which has floral, woody and citrus undertones, is Superdrug’s must-have product.

It is also pushing men’s fragrances Bullion Inc and H2Omme.

Charlie body spray and David Beckham Sport are tipped to be among the top stocking fillers.

Grocer Waitrose is going all out in the category and has worked with three big names to entice customers to stores this Christmas.

It has teamed up with celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward to develop the Chelsea Collection, which “helps offer salonhairstyles at home”, according to Waitrose beauty buyer Mark Steele. It has also launched a skincare range with Korres Natural Products founder George Korres and a moisturising line by Lanolips creator Kirsten Carriol.

Electricals and technology

Last Christmas was the year of the tablet; this year it is likely to be the year of the gaming console. Both electricals giant Dixons, owner of Currys and PC World, and Littlewoods owner Shop Direct predict that Xbox and PlayStation will fight it out to be the 2013 festive best-seller as Microsoft and Sony release new consoles for the first time in six years.

Charlie Stringer, category manager for gaming consoles at Currys and PC World, says: “The gloves are off and it’ll be interesting to see who wins come Christmas Day.”

Shop Direct group product director Karl Doyle observes: “These products, with the gaming releases that will
support them, are set to invigorate the gaming market this Christmas.”

Behind Xbox One and PlayStation PS4 in Currys and PC World’s top 10 list of festive tech best-sellers are tablet favourites Apple iPad, Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy, which are forecast to sit in third, fourth and fifth spots respectively. Tablet accessories are also expected to do well.

Other categories tipped for festive growth include coffee machines and standing mixers, as well as portable Bluetooth speakers, thanks to mounting consumer demand for portability and wireless connectivity.

The nation’s burgeoning interest in amateur photography will play a big part in driving sales of digital SLR cameras this Christmas.

Meanwhile, John Lewis boss Andy Street says there is some “great innovation in electricals” at the department store group, including a retro-style Ruark radio inspired by US TV series Mad Men.

Homewares

Lakeland aims to appeal to fans of sci-fi this Christmas with an exclusive range of Doctor Who-themed baking products. Coinciding with the Doctor’s 50th anniversary this autumn, the kitchen and home specialist has come up with a Tardis cake mould, Dalek cake stand (right) and cupcake accessories.

Lakeland has also tied up with TV personality Kirstie Allsopp to create a range of cake and preserving accessories.

The retailer is tipping the Yolk Hero, a tool that helps separate egg whites from the yolk, and Deco Spoons, which help cooks spruce up their creations, as hits this festive season.

Lakeland has also noticed a “huge” increase in sales of meat-processing products such as mincers and burger makers, and it expects this trend to continue. The recent trend towards bread and chocolate making products will also continue.

DIY specialist B&Q hopes its Great Gatsby-inspired Christmas decorations will fly off the shelves this year, and expects owl-themed homewares to be a big hit.

The retailer has teamed up with US firm Valspar to launch a paint mixing capability that will be rolled out in time for Christmas and allows shoppers to colour match anything from a lipstick to a car.

Fashion

It’s all about sequins in Debenhams’ womenswear department this Christmas. The black Ben de Lisi sequin maxi dress is touted as a top seller for the retailer, alongside its one-sleeve Diamond by Julien Macdonald sequin dress and a red, long-sleeved Red Herring number.

At Next, lace features heavily throughout womenswear with the prom dress expected to be a big seller. For men, the retailer has suits in an array of jewel tones.

The Great Gatsby trend is swinging into the festive period at Ted Baker. There’s an art deco theme - partly inspired by its recently opened Fifth Avenue store that is designed in the style - that runs through many of its products including a dress, suit lining and a handbag. Bling is also in at Ted Baker with crystal-embellished dresses.

Last year’s festive fashion winner, the onesie, is back with a vengeance. Marks & Spencer will sell an M&S Collection Cashmere Onesie for £199 - last year it sold a onesie a minute at Christmas. Fair Isle and snowflake patterns are predicted to do well at Debenhams. The department store is expecting a frosty yuletide with Fair Isle pyjamas and cosy slipper Boots in its festive offer.

Shop Direct group product director Karl Doyle tips the Christmas jumper as being big again this year. “For adults, they’ll even come complete with flashing noses for that extra festive touch. Onesies will also continue to be a big seller for the third year in a row,” he says.

The Christmas jumper appears on John Lewis’ must-have list. The retailer has also unveiled its first kids’ collection for its exclusive Somerset by Alice Temperley range and lingerie. Following its debut collection in spring/summer, its own-brand lifestyle range, Kin by John Lewis, returns for autumn/winter 2013. The collection spans menswear, womenswear and kidswear and “showcases a range of wardrobe staples that pay great attention to detail, fabric and finish”, according to the retailer.