Personal care products make great gifts for spoiling someone special and, with different products catering for different needs, retailers have multiple sales opportunities to match the right product to the right person.
Appliance Retailer caught up with the major personal care brands to find out what they have lined up for this Christmas.
First up is Tom Paltridge, senior marketing manager, Philips Consumer Lifestyle Australia:
At Philips we do quite some extensive research on people’s buying preferences. When it comes to giving and receiving gifts, particularly at Christmas, our research indicates that consumers are definitely leaning towards products perceived to be more valuable and useful — not just once — but over a long period of time.
Both for the gift giver and receiver, the gift has to have a purpose and provide a useful addition to the recipient’s life. In this sense, they are becoming more considered in their purchasing decisions and are taking the time to understand the benefits of potential gifts.
Gift Idea: Philips Series 9000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver (S9111/26 RRP: $449) is Philips’ most advanced shaver ever. It flexes in eight different directions and the VTrack system guides hair into the best cutting position for the closest shave. A 1-hour charge provides 50 minutes of cordless use.
***
Ermina Isanovic, hair care product manager, Spectrum Brands says there are three things consumers are really looking for in personal care products:
Whether getting ready for work, a night out on the town or for a special occasion – there are four things that consumers want: salon styling, trendiness and fast and easy results. More than ever consumers, want to achieve salon styling results in their own home. Consequently, consumers are looking for professional styling tools that provide them with consistent, long-lasting results.
Gift Idea: Blow Dry in a Box (AC3501AU, RRP $69.95) is a promotional pack from Remington that includes everything needed for an at-home blow dry: a 2,300-watt dryer, a round brush for easy styling and three Osmo salon products to prepare the hair before styling and to set it afterwards.
***
VS Sassoon has teamed up with international fashion designer Gail Elliot for its Christmas promotion. Here’s Eve Hughes, product manager, VS Sassoon on the new partnership:
We are thrilled to be working with someone of the statue and talent of Gail Elliott. The exclusive butterfly print for our limited edition bag that Gail has created is a perfect match for our VS Sassoon Curl Secret.
Gift Idea: For a limited time, the VS Sassoon Curl Secret styler will come with a bonus butterfly print bag (VSP2667BBCA, RRP $172) designed by with supermodel and respected international fashion designer Gail Elliott. The offer will also be supported by a POS campaign that provides purchasers of any VS product to go in the draw to win one of 10 Gail Elliott for Little Joe Woman wardrobes.
***
Spectrum Brands also has a great gift idea for golf fans. Martin Szymiczek, product manager – personal care, Australasia, Spectrum Brands:
Christmas is the key selling period, with sales volumes often tripling in all Personal Care categories during the gift giving period. Remington is focusing on making gift giving decisions easier by supporting retailers with innovative new product launches, superior packaging, and unique gift giving lines to capitalise on the biggest retailing event of the year.
Gift Idea: The HyperFlex Golfer (XR1331AU, RRP$199) offers the perfect solution for consumers struggling to find a gift for hard-to-buy-for men at Christmas. This gift pack includes a golf-themed HyperFlex Shaver, three TaylorMade branded golf balls and a travel friendly charging stand. It also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.
Gift Idea: The Remington Smooth&Silky Ultimate Cordless Wet/Dry Epilator (EP7035AU RRP $179) is a complete beauty package. This epilator comes with extra attachments including exfoliating head, callus remover head, and shaver head for sensitive areas.
***
Conair will be supporting its premium Lithium Pro men’s grooming range with the help of new brand ambassador, rugby union player Tatafu Polota-Nau.
“The most damaging front rower of all time, he’s toned down his fro and trimmed his mo for a sharper look using the VS Lithium Pro range. Known as the ‘beast’, Tatafu represents the core values of the Lithium Pro grooming range of power, precision and performance,” said Claire Durand, product manager, VS Sassoon.
Gift Idea: The Lithium Pro Stubble Trimmer (VSM7898A, RRP $109) from VS Sassoon is 100 per cent waterproof and has a patented Contouring Flex Head. The range also includes the i-Pro Intensive Hair Clipper (VS7475A, RRP $132) and the Lithium Pro Face and Body trimmer (VSM7420A, RRP $89.95).
Gift Idea: Conair True Glow Warm Steam and Cool Mist Facial Sauna (C3704CRA RRP $69.95) is designed to replicate a spa treatment at home; the facial sauna releases warm steam to open pores to prepare the face for a deep cleanse. After cleansing, a cool mist closes pores.
***
“Pampering products as gift giving ideas always feature strongly during this trading period and those that have branding/luxury cachet feature even more significantly,” said Maria Russo, director, FitZone Solutions.
Gift Idea: the Elle Pureo Sonic Facial Brush (FCE60, RRP $79.95) is suitable for wet and dry use. It takes daily care of your skin with three attachments, two speed levels and 5-to-8 hours of usage from a 2-hour charge.
Gift Idea: Beurer EM38 Back Belt with TENS therapy (RRP $129) provides targeted pain relief for sore backs via electrical nerves stimulation (TENS) with adjustable intensity levels.
***
For Panasonic the focus for personal care is on making life easy and offering a range of products at different price points.
“Nowadays, while men are certainly more conscious of personal care, they still want a quick and easy solution that is going to deliver results,” said Sophie Barton group manager, home appliance and air conditioning, Panasonic Australia.
Gift Idea: Panasonic ES-LT71-S541 3-blade wet/dry shaver (RRP $299). This 3-blade unit automatically recharges and cleans itself. The blades are housed within a Multi Flexible Active Head designed to follow the contours of the face.
