06.12.09


SALES OF RELIGIOUS ICONS SOAR AT SELFRIDGES AS CONSUMERS RETURN TO A TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS

 

 

Origami nun ornaments £22.50, exclusive to Selfridges
Selfridges, the UK’s leading department store, reports a growing trend for religious ornaments in the run up to Christmas.

Sales of porcelain ‘Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus’ statues, bronze crosses and traditional nativity sets are selling out at Selfridges’ stores in Birmingham, Manchester and London.  Nativity set sales have increased by 20 per cent (YOY), as customers favour traditional Christmas gifts over modern fads.  Trading at Selfridges’ Christmas shop which opened August 8th is also up 30 per cent on the year. 

Due to the increase in demand for religious ornaments, Lladro is to introduce an exclusive range of porcelain figurines of Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus (prices range from £67 to £210), scheduled to land in store first week December.

Best selling religious ornaments:

  1. Origami Sculpture by One Hundred 80 Degrees £23.95
  2. Virgin Mary ceramic statue by One World Trading £89.95
  3. One Hundred 80 Degrees Origami fine porcelain Nativity Set £99.95
  4. Small bronze and black cross £44.95
  5. Kurt S Adler baby’s first nativity set £67

Geraldine James, Selfridges’ Christmas Shop Buying Manager said: “This year, the nesting trend has taken a conventional twist, with a return to the real tradition of Christmas.  This is the first year we’ve experienced the rise in popularity of religious ornaments as home accessories and sales of nativity sets are up 20 per cent on the year.”

More British people are going to church, according to Christian charity, Tearfund.  Figures show that more than a quarter of adults in the UK attend church at least once a year, while 15 per cent of Britons attend once a month (up by 2 per cent from last year).

Ben Wilson, Spokesperson from The Church Of England: “The economic downturn is perhaps challenging people to ask questions about where they place their trust. Anything that shakes the structure of our lives makes us think more about internal things - and for some that may lead on to exploring what the Christian faith has to offer."

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