Feedback’s already showing Mother’s Day (30 March) was a strong one for UK retail footfall and related sales, but which sectors performed the best? Furnishings/homewares, gadgets/gifts/gaming and jewellery topped the list. Beauty retailers look away now.
DR
Let’s begin by pointing out the latest report from Visualsoft is purely e-commerce based, but did show this year’s event “highlighted a significant shift in UK consumer behaviour, with a clear move towards thoughtful and enduring gifts”.
And while fashion may not have registered in the popularity listing, it did get a mention with news its average order value (AOV) increased 82% this year, from £52.61 to £95.52, “suggesting that consumers are willing to invest more in quality items”. It also noted 58% of online fashion orders were placed via mobile.
Covering the 17-29 March selling period, top of the thoughtful/enduring list was the furniture/homewares sector, which experienced a 22% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2024, “indicating a growing preference for gifts that enhance living spaces and offer long-term value”.
The Gifts/Gadgets/Gaming sector saw a 65% rise in revenue per domain year on year, with conversion rates climbing, “suggesting increased interest in unique and personalised presents”.
Then there’s Jewellery, where sales grew 2%, with mobile orders accounting for 81% of purchases, “highlighting the continued appeal of luxury items and the convenience of mobile shopping”.
Conversely, the Health/Beauty/Cosmetics sector experienced an 19% decline in revenue in 2025, “indicating a shift away from traditional gifts in this category”.
Jen Pollard, senior analyst at Visualsoft, said: “Shoppers are increasingly choosing gifts that offer lasting value and personal significance. They want good deals and products that will last. Consumers are still watching their spending, and want to know their money is being spent on things of real meaning and longevity.”
The data also reveals that many sectors saw peak shopping days around a week prior to Mother’s Day. Both Fashion and Furniture/Home Furnishings experienced their peak sales on the Monday before Mother’s Day, while Gifts/Gadgets/Gaming and Health/Beauty/Cosmetics peaked on Tuesday. Jewellery saw its peak on Wednesday, “possibly indicating a trend towards last-minute purchases enabled by next-day and two-day delivery options”.
On pricing, conversely, Furniture/Home Furnishings saw a 7% fall in AOV, from £223.14 to £206.58, “which may reflect a focus on smaller, more affordable home improvements”. Gifts/gadgets/gaming experienced a 15% increase in AOV, from £34.28 to £39.51, “indicating a willingness to spend more on unique gifts and experiential opportunities”.
Yet traditional sectors Health/Beauty/Cosmetics and Jewellery saw slight declines in AOV, at 7% and 4%, respectively.
Finally, the data also shows a decline in the use of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services across most sectors, with the exception of jewellery, which saw a 14% increase. “This suggests that consumers are becoming more cautious about using deferred payment options, possibly due to concerns about managing multiple payment plans. People increasingly seem to be opting for paying for things out right, or with express checkout options”.
April Hennig has been promoted to the newly created role of president at Moda Operandi, leading the company’s “revenue-driving and brand-building functions”, including Private Client Sales, Digital Marketing, Creative and Merchandising.
April Hennig
Continuing to report to CEO Jim Gold, she’ll unite these teams under “a cohesive strategic vision to enhance brand desirability, deepen client relationships, and accelerate growth”.
Hennig joined the luxury e-commerce platform in 2021 as chief merchandising officer and added the chief marketing officer role to her remit in 2023.
As president, she’ll work closely with Moda Operandi’s Sales Leadership team, “continuing the growth trajectory of the company’s private client business and driving initiatives for new customer acquisition”.
The company said that in her time there she’s “played a pivotal role in redefining Moda Operandi’s position in the luxury fashion space. Her strategic vision and sharp editorial eye have helped enhance the platform’s product portfolio, foster deeper engagement with both iconic and emerging designers, and reinforce Moda’s standing as a leader in next-generation luxury retail”.
The practical results of that have been a “dramatic margin improvement, driven by a more curated product mix, smarter inventory management, and a stronger focus on high-performing categories”.
She’s also spearheaded important developments such as the launch of its Beauty division and marketplace channel.
Prior to joining Moda Operandi, Hennig was president of Jonathan Simkhai and earlier was VP, divisional merchandise manager for Women’s Contemporary at Bergdorf Goodman. She began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Jim Gold had worked with her at Bergdorf Goodman and said that when he joined Moda Operandi in 2021, she was “the first person I thought to bring on board to help re-shape our business”.
He called her “exceptional in every way — intelligent, driven, deeply passionate about product, and unwaveringly customer-centric. She is a natural leader who cares deeply about our team members, clients and business partners”.
Meanwhile co-founder and chief brand officer Lauren Santo Domingo added that she’s “the kind of woman who makes excellence look effortless — sharp, driven, innately attuned to product, and instinctively in sync with the Moda Operandi client”.
Pepe Jeans London is once again making the most of its British heritage for its latest marketing campaign. The label, which was founded in London but is now owned by Madrid-based AWWG, has for spring 2025 drawn inspiration from classic collegiate cities across the UK.
“With their warm sandstone buildings and dark wood interiors, these iconic locations provide the perfect backdrop for a collection that blends timeless charm with the confident-cool attitude synonymous with Pepe Jeans”, we’re told.
This season, the spotlight is on denim lifestyle, with a fresh take on cream and white denim as the key focus.
The campaign shoot, dubbed Very Spring, Very Pepe, features actress and entrepreneur Kriti Sanon and Canadian model Simon Nessman who “bring the collection’s vision and inspiration to life capturing the essence of the UK’s classic collegiate charm combined with the relaxed style of Pepe Jeans”.
The pieces featured include signature tencel shirts and jeans in Pepe’s light wash, while blue and white stripes bring a seasonal spring touch to knitwear and shirts for both men and women.
The collection also introduces college-inspired casual looks that work as transitional pieces to bridge spring and summer. That means lightweight jackets, polos, and linen shirts.
Desigual ended its 2024 fiscal year with a turnover of €332 million, driven primarily by an increase in international sales and the strong performance of its online channel. Pretax profit reached €3.1 million, a slight increase from the €3.04 million recorded in the 2022 fiscal year—the most recent period with available data. However, during that same 2022 period, Desigual had reported total sales of €379 million, marking a 12% decrease in revenue for 2024.
The exterior of the Barcelona-based brand’s flagship store in Shanghai – Desigual
Online sales played a pivotal role, accounting for 35% of the company’s total revenue—or €116 million. This marks a significant rise from 2019, when e-commerce represented just 19% of overall revenue. The channel’s growth has been largely fueled by Desigual’s recent entry into major global e-commerce platforms such as Macy’s and Nordstrom.
By market, the brand posted solid growth in the United States and Japan, with sales increasing by 7% and 9%, respectively. Meanwhile, the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) delivered a strong performance, registering an 11% year-over-year increase.
These results reaffirm Desigual’s transformation strategy, first introduced in 2019 just before the pandemic. The brand has since repositioned itself with a more contemporary and fashion-forward aesthetic, aimed at attracting a younger consumer base. As part of this renewed identity, Desigual recently named Madrid-born actress Ester Expósito as its global ambassador for the full duration of 2025.
Another key growth driver was Desigual’s continued investment in its international retail network. Over the past five years, the company has allocated €98 million to restructure and expand its physical store footprint. A major milestone in this strategy was the opening of its first flagship store in Shanghai in October 2024—a pivotal move in its broader push into the Asian market, developed in collaboration with local partner E-Shine, active since 2022.
Founded in 1984 by Thomas Meyer, Desigual currently operates a commercial network of 282 monobrand stores across 95 international markets, leveraging 10 distinct sales channels. Looking ahead, the company plans to continue investing in communication and marketing, allocating approximately 10% of its total revenue to these areas in 2025.
Entertainment8 years ago