Online wholesale marketplace Faire’s 2025 forecast has revealed four major consumer and product trends transforming how independent retailers can connect with shoppers this year

Independent retailers will stock more adventure-inspired accessories, opulent vintage pieces, natural goods and playful nostalgic items this year, according to the 2025 forecast from online wholesale marketplace Faire.

Faire’s newly-released report examined thousands of product searches from the independent retailers using the platform across the world to identify the products that are expected to see a surge in demand in 2025 and the four consumer trends behind their growing appeal:

  1. ‘Victorian noir’

It found a growing appetite for bold, indulgent décor and accessories among Faire’s retailers, influenced by period dramas and the rejection of pared-back minimalism, was contributing to a rise in searches from shop owners looking for ‘burgundy’, ‘mirrors’, and ‘brocade’ on the platform.

This includes a 240 percent increase in searches for ‘burgundy’ compared to two years ago, a 29 percent increase in searches for ‘brocade’ and a 50 percent increase in searches for leather products.

In response, interiors wholesale company McGowan & Rutherford in Cambridge has seen a 40 percent sales increase for its black-framed mirrors and a 20 percent increase for its rustic bottles and vases. And Charmaine Ryan, the founder of Augusta Jewellery in Somerset said programmes like Bridgerton were increasing the popularity of her most opulent pieces.

Charmaine said: “I have sold jewellery on Faire for about 18 months and have definitely seen higher demand recently for the more opulent pieces of jewellery, especially those with richer coloured darker gemstones like Ruby, Emerald and Amethyst.

I do think retailers are bored of the minimalist scandi look which has dominated for a long time and are turning towards maximalist pieces that create impressive, eye-catching displays for their gift shops, allowing them to stand out from the crowd. I absolutely love creating the more dramatic pieces of jewellery for the Victoria Noir look and . It’s so much fun.”

Husband and wife team Lucas Ruth in Walsall  has also experienced a 220 percent surge in sales of its handmade leather journal kits and its co-founder Adam Haycock said: “We really try to recapture a bygone era of rich textures and old-world elegance, making high quality leather products in traditional ways, making our products by hand.

In the last 90 days, our website has seen a 220% rise in sales compared to this time last year, and most of our sales platforms sales percentages have risen. Our Django brown colour has done particularly well this year and we’re finding that customers are wanting more of a rustic look, rather than a look that’s closer to corporate.”

  1. ‘Intentional detours’

Increasing demand for items that support adventurous travel, fuelled by the post-pandemic urge for offline experiences and spontaneous trips away, is also leading to a rise in searches for ‘outdoor’, ‘tent’, ‘blankets’, ‘polaroid’ and ‘film’ on Faire, with searches for ‘outdoor’ doubling since 2024.

This includes a boost in sales for Pairs Scotland’s ultra-durable mohair socks which director Alice Macfarlane partly credits for an overall 60 percent sales rise during the last quarter of 2024, and puts down to more customers looking for ‘off beaten adventures.’

Alice said: “We’re seeing growing demand for our mohair socks because more people are looking for off beaten-path adventures. They are knitted with fibre from South African Angoran goats that have to withstand massive temperature swings and can also be worn for several days on the trot without washing them as mohair has unique properties which don’t require washing as often.”

And Franck Jehanne, co-founder of Heating and Plumbing London said: “We saw a surge in sales for our picnic toolkit collection right after Covid as more people wanted to be outdoors. Since then, the trend has continued and numbers have remained high. We have quite a few direct customers who select their blanket according to their car colours and have a blanket called the Roadster which is for old car collectors who love a picnic on their way to a rally.”

  1. ‘Neutral good’

Environmental awareness and a desire for unique, artisanal quality was found by Faire’s report to be spurring a growing demand for handcrafted, eco-friendly products made from raw, natural materials, with searches for ‘organic’, ‘wicker’, ‘rattan’ and ‘woven’ all rising.

Sophie Beaumont Willis, founder of Tenth Muse, said: “We have found our solid perfumes to be the best-selling item for many of our retailers this year. Our products are plastic-free and we have had reviews from customers stating they have switched from their usual fragrance to our solid fragrances.

Since launching in March 2023 we have seen a huge uplift in sales from people desiring a more sustainable and natural way to wear scents.”

  1. ‘Everyday hopecore’

And shoppers indulging in colourful and playful purchases that nod to their childhood and brighten daily routines has contributed to a 500 percent rise in searches for ‘purse charm’ by the end of 2024 and an increase in retailers looking for bows, claw clips, ballet flats and ‘nostalgia’.

Chloe Hardisty, founder of Cotton Clara in Leicestershire, which has seen strong demand for its embroidered friendship bracelets and sewing kits, said: “Nostalgia plays a big role in the design of our products, from the packaging which has a vintage haberdashery feel to it, to the products that are designed for adults but are very reminiscent of childhood. Our bestselling friendship bracelet is a great example of this.  The idea of comfort and hope all link really well to the art and practice of sewing and its mindfulness and calming influence that so many of our customers tell us they get, often coming from a need to find a sense of peace in a tough time.

The positive slogans that we use on a lot of kits also sit really well with this feeling of hope and comfort. Our ‘You are Wonderful’ & ‘You can Do Hard Things’ are great examples of this.”

‘Shoppers are prioritising adventure, opulence, sustainability and nostalgia’

Charlotte Broadbent, UK general manager at Faire added: “The Faire Forecast 2025 highlights how a pursuit of joy is leading shoppers to prioritise a need for adventure, opulence, sustainability and nostalgia in their purchasing decisions, from indulgent Victorian-inspired décor to handcrafted, eco-friendly products.

For independent retailers, this presents an exciting opportunity to curate product selections that resonate with today’s consumers on an emotional level. By tapping into these trends, shops can offer shoppers products that provide moments of happiness and self-expression and retailers who embrace this will be well-positioned to strengthen customer loyalty and drive meaningful growth in 2025.”

Download the Faire Forecast 2025 here.

 

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