Corgi-themed gift sales soar as Britons set to spend £400m on jubilee
Corgi-shaped cakes, trifle bowls and posh souvenir mugs are among the platinum jubilee-themed products that have hit the spot for shoppers amid a high street battle for the £400m of extra sales riding on the festivities.
Corgi merchandise was one of the big retail trends to emerge, with the small dogs emblazoned on everything from biscuits to mugs, T-shirts and cushions. Marks & Spencer scored a hit with its Queen Connie and Corgi caterpillar cake duo, which sold out in many stores, including on Ocado.
It is estimated that 39 million adults are celebrating the jubilee, with 4.1 million families planning to attend a street party. They will have spent about £45m on jubilee cakes and sweets to share, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), which predicts the overall spending boost will be £408m – part of a wider economic lift that could be as much as £6bn.
The household specialist Lakeland said its £35 vintage-look trifle bowls sold out as soon as a lemon and swiss roll amaretti version of the classic dessert was declared as the official pudding. Cake-stand sales at Waitrose have also doubled with customers searching its website for Victoria sponge and scone recipes with “afternoon tea”.
The retail marketplace OnBuy, which had warned of a potential bunting shortage due to the scramble it saw for party supplies last week, said union flag bunting, party hats and banners were among the products that had sold out.
CRR thinks the souvenir and memorabilia trade will have been worth about £282m, with 6m mugs and 10m flags among the mountain of T-shirts, cushions, stationery and knick-knacks sold.
The pottery brand Emma Bridgewater said most of its platinum jubilee range, which includes Queen Bee mugs and personalised teapots,
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