Emerging Trends in Global Markets May 2013

Our aim is to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, cultural events, and lifestyle trends.

Our central merchandising themes this month focus on fashion, gardening and a look ahead to summer festivities. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Mother’s Day

Extend the shopping season for your Mother’s Day offerings by offering clearly marked expedited shipping and local pickup options for your line of goods.

Father’s Day

With little under a month until Father’s Day (and Germany’s Father’s Day falling on May 17), now is the time to list your full line of offerings to commemorate dad. Think in terms of classic gifts, new dads, and don’t forget about gifts for granddad. Popular gift categories include gadgets, phone cases, sports gear and accessories, fashion accessories for men, cards, and ways to let dad sit back and relax.

Graduations

College and university graduations take place in early to mid-May while high school ceremonies usually take place in early to mid-June. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, and innovative ways to present cash gifts. Don’t forget about those end of the year gift ideas for teachers, too.

Fashion

Spring looks that can transition into summer ― look out for emerald greens ― the shade deemed by Pantone as the 2013 color of the year, Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by beach and resort.

Gardening

It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.

Upcoming Dates to Remember
  May 1 May Day
  May 4 Kentucky Derby
  May 5 Cinco de Mayo
  May 7 May Day (Bank holiday) (UK)
  May 10 VE Day
  May 12 Mother’s Day
  May 15 Whit Monday
  May 18 International Museum Day
  May 18 National Bike to Work Day
  May 22 Victoria Day (Canada)
  May 27 Memorial Day
  May 31 Father’s Day (Germany)