Teapots, Towels, Tea Bags: UK In Coronation Retail Boost
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published May 02, 2023 | 08:13 PM
Commemorative plates, towels and tea bags are vying for attention in shop windows near Buckingham Palace, ready for the first coronation of a British monarch in 70 years
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd May, 2023 ) :Commemorative plates, towels and tea bags are vying for attention in shop windows near Buckingham Palace, ready for the first coronation of a British monarch in 70 years.
"We've ordered about three times more (memorabilia) than usual," Sardor Zok, a salesman in charge of coronation merchandise at online souvenir retailer Cool Britannia, told AFP.
Zok expects demand to rise as Charles III's crowning approaches on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the coronation has presented an obvious marketing opportunity.
The upmarket department store Fortnum & Mason, which supplies the royal family with its tea, is selling a special organic coronation Darjeeling for the coronation for �19.95 ($24.90) per 200 grams.
"We chose Darjeeling because we understand that King Charles drinks this with a spoonful of honey," said Ottilie Cunningham, one of the brand's managers.
"We decided to only select organic tea gardens in Darjeeling due to His Majesty's passion for organic agriculture." Ceramics company "Emma Bridgewater", popular with royal collectors, has produced a wide variety of tableware for the occasion ranging from �12 to �28 for a mug, tea or coffee cup.
All of its pieces are hand-decorated, the manufacturer says, adding that sales have started off on a high note and are expected to be better than for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee last year.
The coronation will also see sales of some six million coins and medals minted for the event, millions of Pounds worth of jewellery, flags and banners as well as 10,000 teapots, according to forecasts by consultants the Centre for Retail Research.
The cost-of-living crisis will take a back seat, with Britons and tourists expected to spend more than �245 million on souvenirs alone -- and more than �1.
4 billion if the wider celebrations are included, it added.
"Lots of people buying souvenirs will be older people... less affected by the cost of living crisis -- they own their houses, have a pension," said CRR director Joshua Bamfield.
In the souvenir shops behind the palace, customers come in to browse an eclectic mix of royal memorabilia, looking to spend "�15 to �20", according to store manager Ismayil Vadakkethil.
The items include protective gloves embossed with the royal coat of arms, Union Jack decorated paper towels and streamers and a "monarchy forever" T-shirt featuring the king.
"My mother is a fanatic royalist, she's got a glass cabinet with all of these royal things," said Australian Julie Whitehead, 63.
"So I'm going to pick up the King Charles ones for her because her cabinet is full of Queen Elizabeth ones," she added.
But while King Charles items sell well, so do souvenirs featuring the monarch's late mother, who remains very popular with royal souvenir hunters.
"I prefer the queen," said Am�lie Zerr, a 40-year-old French tourist, adding she was looking for a "small, kitschy souvenir" and had her heart set on a mug and a coaster.
The customers have changed in recent times, Vadakkethil has noticed.
"Recently I've noticed that it's not just tourists coming in. People who work next door, in the offices, the Londoners themselves, they come into the shop," he added.
For Britons, "it's a big event", and many will be experiencing a coronation for the first time, said Bamfield.
"People will be impressed by the ceremonial aspect and buy things to remember it," he predicted. "It's part of the British psyche."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
More Stories From World
-
Five things to know about Al Jazeera
3 minutes ago -
Floods in southern Brazil force 70,000 from homes
3 minutes ago -
Pak Women Cricket Team arrives in London for T20, ODI series against England
13 minutes ago -
China's Xi arrives in France for state visit
13 minutes ago -
Football: Spanish La Liga results
13 minutes ago -
Football: Scottish Premiership table
13 minutes ago
-
Football: Scottish Premiership results
13 minutes ago -
Cricket: Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20 scores
23 minutes ago -
Vollering claims first women's Vuelta triumph
33 minutes ago -
Al Jazeera condemns Israel's 'criminal' decision to close offices
1 hour ago -
Bayern's Guerreiro to miss Real clash with injury, Musiala and de Ligt return
1 hour ago -
Russian rockets kill two, as rivals mark Orthodox Easter
1 hour ago