February Issue

• A New Year, a new word
  - Editorial
• Shine a Light
  - Candle trends with
  extra glow factor
• Gadget Magic -
  - Must-have culinary picks
• Smart games for a new generation
  - Strategy and logic-based fun is topping the leader board
• Bringing Special Back
  - Mother's Day 2010
• Caught Red Handed
  - Taking Stock of Security

Bringing Special Back

Mother's Day 2010

The second Sunday in May is a great excuse for mothers all around the world to be pampered, but deciding
on what to gift a mother can be the most difficult task of all.

Last year, Mother's Day gifts were all about the traditional and useable, perhaps a concept that was influenced by the global recession. For the coming year, the general theme is once again focused on classic ideas. Think gifts that ignite the senses or provide a quality twist on a traditional purchase.

Edible items such as chocolate will always be well received when it comes to gifts for women. Dianne Sussex, director of La Maison du Chocolat agrees.

“Chocolate is always a popular item for Mother's Day gifts, although as seen with trends at Christmas, we are expecting smaller, more decadent purchases,” she says. “The economic climate has infl uenced purchasing, but not with a decrease in sales. It's simply a case of smaller purchases rather than large ones.” Whilst chocolate of all types reigns popular for occasional days year round, La Maison du Chocolat always see a steady increase in sales of chocolate strawberries and truffl es in May, says Sussex.

Also igniting the senses, but not in the edible department, are scents and lotions. Beautiful fragrances, especially perfumes that mum has worn for years, are a great, safe and trusty option. But for those who are keen to surprise their mum and gift her something she doesn't already have, aromatherapy is, once again, a key gift item, along with scented candles. Providing mum with a stimulating, fragrant experience is a great way to encourage her to take time out for herself.

At the Aromatherapy Company, director Sarah Townsend believes you can't go wrong with a gift that engages the nose. “Out of all the senses, smell is the most evocative. Fragrances and aromas can affect our mood or trigger and create lasting memories.” The Aroma Therapy Company's Home Fragrance range, which includes diffusion sets, drawer sachets, room sprays and burners, is picked to be a most popular 2010 Mother's Day gift package, says Townsend. Another exciting product for 2010 is Aromatherapy's Willow Reed Sticks, says Townsend, with Orange and Jasmine predicted to top their fragrance chart.

For customers who really want to find their mother something unique, jewellery is still on the cards for 2010, with jewellery experts predicting neither an increase nor decrease in its popularity – it remains a staple. From earrings to bracelets and necklaces, it's all about seeking jewellery pieces for mum that encompass a unique style or colour this year round. Charm bracelets are set to make a comeback too, an international trend Pandora Jewellery has largely set in motion down under.

“We have a range of charms that are specifically designed for ‘Mum', so they'll definitely be lining the shelves come May,” says Silverado Jewellery director Angela McLachlan. “From beautiful Murano coloured glass to quality sterling silver charms, they're all gifts mums ‘oo' and ‘ah' over, but don't often buy for themselves.” Charm jewellery pieces are also great for children to gift to their mums, as each year they can add to the bracelet/necklace with an accompanying charm.

Most mothers appreciate practical items, recession or no recession. However, buying her something she already has is simply a waste of time and money. Larger retailers such as Nest are focusing on simplistic styles and colours for the coming season, with glass sets, smaller homeware items and organic linens all reigning top of their gift list in 2010. Cute items that don't cost the earth and are bound to bring a smile to mum's face, include petite tongs, citrus squeezers and vintage kitchenware – all safe but funky transseasonal gift ideas.

Encouraging customers to purchase quality items that can be added to later on, has become a clever sales trend given the current, challenging retail market. Homeware wholesaler Milli R is just one company who stock colourful, pretty china, which can be paired with existing kitchenware stories, an ideal gift idea for mum's who still enjoy playing host to old fashioned afternoon teas. Mixing and matching plates and cups in a designer way also adds colour and vibrancy to a woman's kitchen, even with just a handful of pieces.

As with design trends for 2010, the emphasis for Mother's Day gifts 2010 rests on fresh and unique twists on classic items we know every mother will love. It's about thinking practically, visualising and using one's nose when gift-buying for mum, because special feelings should happen more than once in a lifetime.