Sales

Summer Sales 2021: what to buy

With the disruptions coronavirus has had on all of us for the past one year, the question of shopping trends for spring and summer of 2021 is still uncertain. However, we expect the season to bring its fair share of significant aspects that buyers will be looking for. How will the coronavirus crisis and a period of lockdown and isolation affect consumer desires come summer 2021?

Buyers will tend to look for more creative and comfortable things. They’ll tend to look for more colors, natural palettes like yellows and greens, something to bring back the much-needed joy. Therefore, comfort will be the main shopping criterion. Yes, it’s something consumers are not willing to let go. The lockdowns have made us appreciate a certain comfortable way of life we often take for granted. You can expect a new shopping trend that will take you back to the bucolic, back to the countryside, back to freedom.

While most trade shows and sellers will go digital, at least for the remaining month of 2020, and many buyers keep off in-store visits, you should then expect virtual shopping to dominate and probably to be the only recourse for exploring collections in 2021. This is why digital platforms have become household names as wholesalers and buyers adjust to the pandemic-induced new world order.

Without the full-on sensory elements of buying, whether verifying colors, quality and fit, and checking on material’s quality, buyers now have to trust their ears and eyes that what they bought virtually is precisely what is delivered. Although there are high hopes of returning to normal once a vaccine arrives, there are experts who suggest that the industry may never be the same and that virtual buying is here to stay.

Although 2020 has been a quiet year for the fashion industry, it has also unveiled some bold and stylish designs. Come summer of 2021; you can expect to shop for some of these trendy styles.

Shoulderpad Boyfriends Jackets

Play with shapes while you create a long-line silhouette with this 80s-inspired oversized shoulder pad blazer. Thanks to the shoulder pad, this blazer will cinch in your waist and elongate your legs. You can match this outfit with a pair of leather shorts or straight-leg pants. Neutrals, charcoal, and powder blue are some of the colors that suit this outwear trend.

Black face masks

You have to protect yourself from the virus, and you can do it and still look beautifully dressed. Black faces masks match virtually all outfits while still offering safe coverage for your mouth and nose. Look for something made of silk for better breathing or go for one with embellishments if you’re looking for something fancy. The most beautiful thing about the black face mask is the timeless styling that comes along with it. You can wear anything from a color-block suit to a trendy red trench coat and still appear exceptionally stylish. From a contemporary shape to an accordion-style, several options at your disposal to keep you and others safe.

Head scarfs

This 50s and 60s inspired elegant fashion is taking the streets with a storm. Besides protecting your hair, a headscarf adds a fine touch to your outfit without going overboard. Choose a headscarf with intricate patterns, floral motifs, or just a silky design, or stick to something simple with block letters and bold colors.

Toys and games

Most sellers have reported significant sales for home activities than ever before this year. The same is expected come summer of 2021. It would help if you'd look for DIY necklaces, puzzles or any sellers offering pool flats and fishing games. Babies are still being born despite the pandemic. So, come summer 2021, buyers will still be looking for lots of gift-wrapped bundles. You can expect baby showers to continue, even if virtually. No special occasion items will sell highly in summer 2021. There will be more of practical pieces and everyday basics for children, which means more of easy-to-wear choices like sweatpants, joggers, leggings and more. Comfort will be paramount through 2021 as we strive to beat the virus.

Winter sales 2021: what to buy

In these pandemic times, you need to buy the items you want. Anyone who thought they’d cool off above ground last summer was out of luck, and so are those who thought they’d get back to the bicycle saddle. Two-wheelers were such a hot commodity that most bicycle shops couldn’t manage the avalanche of demand. No one knows how long this trying moment will last, and with winter 2021 in sight, some items might be in short supply. For instance, if you listened to your friends or industry experts canvasing, you’d know that patio heaters are already hard to find. We’re just going to give a wild guess of items you might want to put on your shopping list before your neighbor does and put a strain on the supply chain.

Spices

Culinary items such as cayenne, turmeric, coriander, and cumin flew off most grocery shelves when lockdowns set in as pandemic chefs were trying to fire up their kitchens. That made consumers turn to online retailers specializing in organic spices. Some reported up to 300% increase in sales in the period leading up to winter 2020. Winter 2021 may likely be significant for spice sales, and with the virus still biting in most parts of the world. With supply chains from Vietnam, Turkey, India, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala expected to remain tight; we advise that you stock up on nutmeg, pumpkin pie spices, cinnamon, garlic, and coriander. We also recommend you to stock up on whole spices such as cardamom, peppercorns, and grind them with a coffee grinder ready for winter 2021.

Yarn

Big-time knitters are serious hoarders and can’t resist yarn. Even though you may have lifelong stashes, the idea of the long stretch of wintertime without leaving the comfort of your home could make you desperate for more. And you can tell this from the previous experience where yarn aisles were left bare just before nonessential shops closed. Though craft stores may reopen well before winter 2021, Australia, US, New Zealand, and China, who are world’s top wool producers, could still be affected by the pandemic. Most people tend to knight more in the time leading up to fall, so you need to stockpile beforehand.

Fitness equipment

Even in the strictest corona virus lockdowns, citizens were still encouraged to go out for a walk. But those experiencing the cold season faced inclement conditions and little desire to head to the gym. If you can afford it, the best option would be to invest in a treadmill or some other home fitness equipment. These may include incline trainers, treadmills, rovers, ellipticals, and stationary cycles. Are you looking for dumbbells? Well 95% of them are made in China, so if you’re looking well into winter 2021, you’d better stock up now. At the onset of the pandemic, supply chain and distribution hurdles left most sporting goods retailers with empty stores. Even though there are attempts to fix the issues, the rising consumer demand still strains the supply. Therefore, if you want a treadmill or any other fitness product in winter 2021, buy it as soon as you spot it.

Snowshoes

If you prefer to walk to work or take a morning run, you may have to consider snowshoes. Some may chuckle, but you’ll laugh last when you still run in the morning or walk to work. Come winter 2021; there will be less of skiing as more people will be more interested in other outdoor activities while maintaining social distance. Therefore, retailers should expect to see a surge in demand for snowshoes.

Campers and RVs

Although a camper is a big-ticket item, it could be your only traveling ticket in winter 2021. An RV, on the other hand, lets you control your environment when and how you want to interact with others. More and more professionals will be using RVs for remote learning and teleworking. You can park it on your driveway, and work or learn from there, and this is why the demand is high. Dealers are already reporting low inventory while most RVs at sales lots are already sold out. Don’t hesitate to add your name on the list, if at all you need one.

Nintendo Switch

This Christmas gift has become commonplace for those into video gaming. When the world first went into lockdown, most people were looking for something to do. Nintendo switch then become highly popular. You don’t need a joystick or controllers, get it out of the packaging and start playing. The Switch’s across-the-board thrill increases its demand. Retailers reported a 166% increase in sales between April and June 2020. The writing is on the wall!

Coronavirus has taught many lessons, and one is that we should value the little things we took for granted before. In 2020, lockdowns in many parts of the world, created an imbalance in the supply chain of most items and the same could spill over to 2021. Consumers demanded more of this and less of that, while retailers could only watch as market forces squared it out. Don’t be caught up in this play either in summer or winter of 2021. Stock up early and stay safe.