Personal Accessories

The pandemic catalyses industry consolidation, increasing the top 10 players' share. Luxury brands thrive initially, but a sector slowdown opens doors for non-luxury players. Asia Pacific garners attention, with regional giants gaining global…

Writing instruments occupy a modest share of the overall personal accessories market in Switzerland, thus exerting minimal influence on the sector. In 2023, the category witnessed stagnant growth in value terms, with a slight decline in volume sales…

In 2023, writing instruments in Hong Kong experienced a resurgence, fuelled by the resumption of foot traffic and the expansion efforts of prominent retailers. Stationery Lo, a well-known chained retailer of writing instruments and non-grocery goods,…

The Swiss market for traditional and connected watches, renowned globally for its high-quality timepieces, is undergoing an evolution characterised by an expanding interest in various watch types, transcending the boundaries of luxury. A notable…

The rebound in sales of traditional and connected watches in Hong Kong has been driven by the resumption of tourists and increased foot traffic among domestic consumers. Within watches, the higher price tiers experienced a significant rebound in…

The interest and demand for personal accessories in Switzerland, encompassing bags and luggage, jewellery, traditional and connected watches, and writing instruments, were poised to remain robust in 2023. However, following two years of robust growth…

In 2023, the revival of tourism and increased foot traffic among local consumers played a pivotal role in the rebound of personal accessories in Hong Kong. High-end products experienced a noteworthy resurgence, driven by the resilient spending power…

Building on the positive momentum from the previous year, jewellery in Switzerland witnessed dynamic growth in 2023, led by the growing demand for costume jewellery. This trend, reminiscent of 2022, underscored shifting consumer preferences towards…

The lifting of pandemic restrictions sparked a resurgence in foot traffic in commercial districts in the city, leading to a significant increase in demand for jewellery in Hong Kong. After a freeze of 2-3 years since the outbreak of the pandemic in…

In 2023, bags and luggage witnessed a stagnant performance in terms of value sales growth in Switzerland, coupled with a slight decline in demand. Although demand remained robust compared to pre-pandemic levels, there was a slight dip from the…

The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions marked the resurgence of outdoor activities and travel among local consumers, igniting a renewed demand for bags and luggage in Hong Kong. After a hiatus of 2-3 years since the pandemic outbreak in 2020, many…

Global sales of personal accessories rebounded in 2023, driven largely by price increases due to high inflation, with volume sales posting a more modest increase. Retail offline dominates global personal accessories sales; however, e-commerce gained…

The return to in-person schooling after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in India provided a boost to writing instruments in 2023, with double-digit current value growth maintained. With schools fully reopened, students are attending classes in…

In 2023, traditional and connected watches maintained significant current value growth in India, although connected watches surged ahead of traditional watches in terms of growth; a trend attributed to the increasing emphasis on fitness and health in…

Personal accessories experienced remarkable current value growth in India in 2023, building on its recovery from the challenges of the pandemic period. With a notable resurgence in travel activities and a renewed focus on personal style, the industry…

Jewellery witnessed double-digit current value growth in India in 2023. In this dynamic landscape, costume jewellery witnessed an unprecedented surge, boasting a high double-digit growth rate that surpassed the performance of fine jewellery. This…

Bags and luggage experienced significant current value growth in India in 2023, marking a remarkable rebound from the setbacks faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The category was heavily impacted by lockdown restrictions and decreased travel…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence among the key economies remains. Supply chain and commodities markets disruptions remain the key risks for…

As consumers could finally travel, and return to workplaces and educational establishments, bags and luggage has continued on the recovery path that started in 2022. Despite a higher cost of living, which brought some expected conservativeness to…

In 2022, prices continued the steady rise that started before the pandemic, with significant increases since then, mainly driven by soaring energy costs. The recovery from the pandemic was slow, due to several COVID-19 variants affecting schools and…

In 2023, analogue quartz watches took a prominent position in Germany’s market, seamlessly integrating traditional craftsmanship with technological advances. These timepieces blend classic aesthetics with up-to-date design elements, particularly…

Personal accessories faced slow growth in 2023, due to economic uncertainty. Consumer confidence revived somewhat towards the end of the year, but spending is expected to remain constrained, due to the global financial and labour crises. Hybrid and…

After 2022 saw double-digit growth in jewellery sales in Germany, 2023 showed signs of a slowdown. Among the drivers that led to a revival in the jewellery industry in 2022 were a renewed sense of freedom to socialise and enjoy life after two years…

After moderate growth in 2022, global sales of personal accessories grew more strongly in 2023; however, geopolitical issues ,the cost of living crisis and China’s slow recovery suggest a challenging macro environment, pushing personal accessories…

In the world of writing instruments in Brazil, the year 2023 unfolded against the backdrop of a nation striving to recover from the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic. Brazil, one of the countries in which class interruptions endured the longest,…

In traditional and connected watches in Brazil, the year 2023 unfolded against the backdrop of a recovering yet nuanced economic and social environment. As the country grappled with the aftermath of pandemic-induced uncertainties, the category…

In the intricate tapestry of personal accessories in Brazil in 2023, the journey has been one marked by resilience and adaptation of consumer sentiment. The socioeconomic landscape in the country, marred by the prolonged impacts of the pandemic,…

In the intricate world of jewellery in Brazil, the year 2023 unfolded against the backdrop of a social and economic scenario marked by both resilience and transformation. As the nation emerged from the shadows of the pandemic, the personal…

In 2023, Brazil found itself in its first official year of normalcy after the global pandemic. As the nation navigated the complexities of economic and social recovery, bags and luggage became a reflection of collective resilience and evolving…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

Spain’s birth rate continues to fall with couples having fewer children, starting a family a later in life or even choosing not to have children at all. According to the latest data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), Spain’s birth…

There was modest volume growth in 2022, partly due to an influx of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion and partly as a result of a post-pandemic return to regular school and work patterns. However writing instruments saw a decline in…

Sales of traditional watches saw a strong recovery in 2021 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased and there was a partial recovery in demand. This positivity was short lived, however, with the global economy being plunged into uncertainty in 2022…

For traditional and high-end watches, brick-and-mortar retailers remain the preferred distribution channel in Poland, with jewellery and watch specialists accounting for the large majority of sales in 2023. The tactile experience of seeing and…

2023 saw a return to relative normality in Spain with the World Health Organisation declaring the health crisis to be over. All COVID-19 related restrictions had been lifted by July 2023 which helped to boost consumer confidence and resulted in…

In 2023, inflation had a significant impact on personal accessories in Poland. The cost of living and average unit prices of essential items increased, leading Polish consumers to gravitate towards more affordable and durable products, especially in…

Jewellery witnessed slower growth in retail volume terms in 2023 compared to 2022 with sales remaining well below pre-pandemic levels. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 the price of food and energy has risen sharply, while most…

The affordability of lab-grown diamonds is a significant factor in their growing popularity in Poland. With prices up to 85% lower than natural diamonds of identical carat weight and grade, lab-grown diamonds present a cost-effective alternative for…

After a strong recovery in 2021 as Spain started to ease its COVID-19 restrictions demand has since slowed considerably with sales of bags and luggage seeing only a moderate recovery in retail volume terms in 2022 while in 2023 sales stagnated. The…

The lifting of travel restrictions post-COVID-19 has had a positive impact on luggage, backpacks, business bags and handbags with these subcategories, particularly luggage, registering growth in both current retail value terms, albeit at a slower…

There is an ongoing shift from unbranded and counterfeit products towards recognised brands, driven by increased parental awareness of the potential health risks associated with generic and unbranded items. This shift indicates a growing preference…

From 2020 to 2021, the Department of Education and Commission of Higher Education implemented remote learning in response to the pandemic, with the goal of returning to face-to-face classes in 2022. In 2022, schools began to reopen as scheduled, and…

A movement towards fountain pens was noted in 2023, driven by the trends of nostalgia and elegance. Enthusiasts and collectors both appreciated the smooth writing experience, the aesthetic appeal, and the personal touch that fountain pens bring to…

Writing instruments saw a decline in volume terms in 2023, following the sluggish performance of the previous year. While writing instruments remain essential in schools, they are less used in offices and universities. As technology involves,…

In 2023, writing instruments, including subcategories such as pens and pencils, registered stable current value growth thanks to high inflation and as consumers returned to pre-pandemic habits and norms. The back-to-school season was a key sales…

The challenging economic situation in the country, characterised by high inflation rates, had less of a dampening effect on the performance of writing instruments in 2023, compared with other personal accessories categories. This is mainly because…

Before the onset of COVID-19, the industry raced ahead, promoting swift turnover in consumer choices. However, in the post-COVID era, a shift has occurred towards a slower, more thoughtful approach. Consumers are now leaning towards timeless pieces…

As sales of second-hand watches from top luxury brands have been booming due to the previous supply chain issues and closure of manufacturing facilities, major luxury watch brands have created programmes in 2023 to support and acknowledge the growth…

There has been a noted revival of classic watches in Taiwan, with a renewed appreciation for traditional, mechanical watches. This is aiding sales of quartz analogue devices, with mid and high quartz analogue watches recording positive retail volume…

Traditional and connected watches registered a marked slowdown in growth in current value terms in 2023, when set against the previous two years, which saw sales bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Value growth was driven largely by inflation and…