Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Whimsical
Gifting
Mythical gift-giving references the power of Internet culture.
3.2
Trend score
Trend
What is the Whimsical Gifting trend?
Whimsical Gifting: In an effort to align with the fantasy of the holiday season in an unexpected way, retailers and manufacturers are offering whimsical products that engage consumers' sense of play. Products that reference mythical creatures and folkloric concepts tie into a sense of nostalgia that's been largely accelerated by fast-growing digital culture, and indicate the strength of Internet fandoms in real-world contexts.
Trend themes
Themes within the Whimsical Gifting trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Whimsical and Nostalgic Products
Manufacturers are offering whimsical products that reference mythical creatures and evoke a sense of nostalgia for consumers, embracing internet fandoms in the real world.
02
Handcrafted Tech-Free Toys
As technology permeates every aspect of our lives, wooden toys made without high-tech features are becoming increasingly popular, providing lucrative opportunities for manufacturers of handcrafted, tech-free toys.
03
Playful Novelties
Manufacturers are exploring quirky and fun items, such as unicorn-themed cosmetics, in order to appeal to a younger audience looking for playful and unique novelties.
Industry implications
What the Whimsical Gifting trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toys and Games
The whimsical and nostalgic trend in product design opens a window for innovative manufacturers to make unique, tech-free toys and gain traction.
For
Fashion and Personal Care
The playful and quirky persona has inspired designers to make unique non-conforming items in this particular sector, expanding to cosmetics, hair and body care products.
For
Giftware
Consumers are now willing to pay a premium for fun and playful novelties and giftware, opening up new business opportunities for retailers to provide personalized and creative options.
Workshop question
What can your brand offer to leverage the purchasing power of online "fandoms."?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Whimsical Gifting
Trend score 3.2 out of 10, from popularity 40%, activity 50%, freshness 8%.
Popularity40%
Activity50%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Whimsical Gifting trend
5 featured examples from Mar 10 to Dec 1, 2015CategoryArt & Design
Mythical Cereal Bowls
This Cute Bowl from UncommonGoods is Shaped to Look Like a Rotund Unicorn
The home decor industry can tap into the trend of mythical-inspired products to create a range of whimsical and imaginative pieces, such as home accessories and furnishings adorne…
CategoryFashion
Sparkly Unicorn Cosmetics
This Somewhat Crassly Branded Glitter Gel is Dubbed 'Unicorn Snot'
Cosmetic companies can create novelty products that appeal to their target audiences at specific events and occasions.
CategoryArt & Design
Mythical Wooden Toys
This Decorative Wooden Character is Designed to Resemble Bigfoot
Scope for toy manufacturers to tap into the demand for tech-free and creatively designed wooden toys.
CategoryLifestyle
Fantasy Cat Calendars
This Whimsical Cat Calendar Features Magically Winged Felines
Opportunity for pet companies to create unique and creative pet calendars inspired by fantasy animals.
CategoryArt & Design
Mythical Writing Tools
This Adorable Unicorn Pen Gives Your Stationery Collection a Magical Touch
The stationery industry could benefit from developing imaginative designs for writing tools and other products that appeal to unicorn enthusiasts and collectors.
