Home & Gift Harrogate at 65: Trends, Takeaways & Timeless Inspiration
his July, Harrogate once again proved why it remains the heart of the UK’s summer sourcing calendar. Celebrating its 65th edition, the Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival brought together more than 500 brands, trend experts, and retailers under one sun-soaked roof — or rather, across the scenic lawns and charming halls of this beloved spa town. The event offered more than just product displays — it delivered ideas, insight, and inspiration.
As a global sourcing platform committed to thoughtful design-led product development, Qalara attended with a focused lens on strategy, craftsmanship, sustainability, and the stories products can tell. Here’s our curated take on the standout themes and trends from this milestone edition — and why they matter for UK buyers aiming to stand out in a competitive market.
So Much More Than Just a Trade Show
The 2025 edition of Home & Gift went far beyond sourcing or product curation, it offered an immersive experience that blended emotion with commerce. A clear indication that businesses need to adopt this strategy in this day and age. The atmosphere was both vibrant and reflective, with spaces designed to spark meaningful retail conversations. One major highlight was The Better Trends Co. installation in Hall M, which set the tone for emotionally resonant and commercially relevant buying.
Through curated vignettes, mood boards, and product storytelling, this installation helped decode shifting consumer desires — guiding buyers on how to merchandise with purpose and align with deeper lifestyle movements to continue staying relevant in today’s fast paced world.
Three Key Trend Themes That Caught Our Eye
The Better Trends Co. brought together three visually striking yet retail-ready trend stories. Each one spotlighted a mix of established and up-and-coming brands, offering a clear glimpse into where future sourcing is headed.
1. Summer Soirée
A vibrant celebration of escapism, this theme invited buyers to embrace the outdoors with a playful, sun-drenched palette. Think lemon motifs, candy stripes, gingham fabrics, and lightweight serveware — perfect for picnics, garden parties, and al fresco dining. In a time when shoppers are seeking little bursts of joy and nostalgia in everyday life, this zesty story offers just the right mood-lift.
Bonus? It also makes for highly visual, shelf-ready displays that turn heads and spark impulse buys.
Explore Our Curation:
We have selected a few Qalara-sourced products below that perfectly align with this theme — ideal for retailers looking to bring these stories to life on their shelves.
2. Grandma’s Attic
This nostalgic narrative leaned into heritage textiles, vintage finds, and keepsake gifting. With crocheted detailing, floral embroidery, and retro-style toys, the trend evoked emotional comfort with a timeless twist. Its deeper appeal lies in storytelling and sentiment — catering especially to Gen Z and millennial consumers seeking authenticity, slowness, and meaningful gifting.
For retailers, this is a great opportunity to curate heirloom-inspired edits that stand out for their warmth and charm.
Explore Our Curation:
We have selected a few Qalara-sourced products below that perfectly align with this theme — ideal for retailers looking to bring these stories to life on their shelves.
3. Bramble & Bloom
Rooted in seasonal rituals and untamed garden beauty, this trend celebrated quiet luxury through nature-first design. Think botanical prints, small-batch craftsmanship, and earthy textures with a distinctly handcrafted ethos. With its deep sustainability message and countryside-inspired aesthetic, this curation is perfect for wellness stores, eco-conscious boutiques, and gift-led garden centers.
Explore Our Curation:
We’ve selected a few Qalara-sourced products below that perfectly align with this theme — ideal for retailers looking to bring these stories to life on their shelves.
Beyond Trends: Insights, Fresh Inspiration & Connection
Beyond the trends, RetailFest expert speaker sessions offered actionable insights for independent retailers. Talks covered emerging tech like AI for visual merchandising, strategies for omni-channel growth, and how to build brand equity in a crowded digital space.
Equally valuable were the networking moments — from terrace chats to the relaxed Summer Party on the Lawn, the event fostered real connections and idea exchanges between like-minded professionals.
What This Means for UK Buyers (and Qalara Partners)
This year’s Home & Gift spotlighted a crucial retail shift: purchasing with emotion and purpose. Whether it is the joy of summer picnics, the comfort of nostalgia, or the calm of garden rituals, today’s buyers want products with soul — and suppliers with values. With hybrid lifestyles blurring the lines between home, wellness, and leisure, this shift is more than seasonal — it is structural.
At Qalara, we are already seeing this play out in UK orders. The demand for ethically made, eco-conscious, and emotionally resonant goods has never been stronger. From handcrafted ceramics to story-rich homeware, UK buyers are actively seeking curated collections that marry aesthetics with ethics.
Our sourcing platform aligns directly with these trends — offering access to over 100,000 products that are fair trade, handmade, organic, and beautifully designed. For retailers, the opportunity is twofold: curate with intention and source with impact.
Final Word
Home & Gift Harrogate continues to be more than a sourcing event — it is a pulse check on consumer sentiment and a strategic compass for the season ahead. This year’s edition reaffirmed that retail is not just about selling — it is about storytelling, sustainability, and standing out.
At Qalara, we champion sourcing with design, impact, and intention. Whether you are curating for the feel-good picnic table, the nostalgic gift shelf, or the conscious lifestyle aisle, we are here to support your vision with products that truly resonate.
Let’s source with soul, together!
~ Written by Kartik Singh Khati
Watch Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival: Show Highlights
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