Royal Baby: George Gives UK Business Boost

By Emma Birchley, Sky News Correspondent

The UK's newest Prince might be less than a week old but he is already proving to be a trendsetter as aspiring parents race to keep up with the Cambridges.

Sales of Britax Baby Safe seats have trebled at Kiddicare superstores since the newborn set off in one on his first car journey after leaving St Mary's Hospital on Tuesday.

And there has been a surge in orders of the £45 hand-finished merino wool shawl made by GH Hurt and Son in Nottingham that Prince George of Cambridge was wrapped in for his first photo shoot.

Alex Fisher, commercial director at Kiddicare, said: "I think it's fabulous news in terms of parents engaging with the fact there is a Royal baby.

"I think it will encourage people to renew and buy new products.

"Parents look at what is the latest product, who is the latest celebrity, and I think on the back of that the seat by default becomes aspirational."

There was so much interest in the dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge that the designer's website crashed earlier in the week.

But it later emerged that the Jenny Packham design was a one-off and not for sale.

The royal seal of approval has been a blessing for some companies

The Centre for Retail Research predicts the new arrival will end up boosting the UK economy by close to £250 million.

That includes everything from the champagne sipped to help celebrate the baby's safe arrival to commemorative mugs.

And Richard Cope, director of trends at market researchers Mintel, believes spending inspired by the young Prince will be sustained by visitors to the UK.

"Tourist numbers are up by about 10% compared with a year ago. They're going to be here throughout the summer and they buy into the concept of the Royal Family.

"The tourist factor is going to drag out spending for months and months."

But it is not just retailers enjoying the Royal feelgood factor.

William and Kate's chosen charities are already benefiting, including East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH), of which the Duchess is patron.

Melanie Chew, fundraising director of EACH, said: "The donations are coming in from the UK, but overseas as well.

"We have had all kinds of generous offers from an ornate handmade cradle from Poland, we've had children's bedroom furniture from Slovenia and we have a charm bracelet on its way, so it's been terrific."

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US marketers greet royal baby with cute ads - USA TODAY

If the royal baby could collect royalties from all the marketers welcoming him to the world, he'd be royally rich.

Even as British marketers have been going gaga over the royal baby for months, with his birth on Monday, a flood of U.S. marketers are suddenly latching on, too, including Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Pizza Hut, Craftsman Tools and Pampers. Most are going the social media route.

For marketers, it's all about linking their brands with one of pop culture's — and social media's — biggest happenings. As of midday Tuesday, the royal baby had been mentioned in more than 2 million tweets, reports Twitter. Interest in the royal birth is particularly keen for marketers who often have a difficult time finding upbeat news events with which to associate their products.

Even the cynics get it. "This does help advertisers because, unfortunately, we are all caught up in the royal family," says pop culture expert Elayne Rapping.

A PRINCE IS BORN: The royal baby arrives

But the tie-ins will only work for advertisers that make a logical connection to the baby's birth, says Allison Cohen, owner of PeopleTalk Research.

Among the baby-welcomers:

• Johnson & Johnson. The baby products maker tweeted out a photo of a baby in a bathtub wearing an apparent crown made from baby shampoo bubbles. It also plans to run a print ad in People magazine featuring a baby's hand holding onto a mother's finger under the headline: "A parent's love is the same the world over."

• Coke. The cola giant tweeted out a photo of two toasting Coke bottles, one labeled Wills and the other labeled Kate. The tweet read, "Time for a royal celebration."

• Pampers. The diaper maker tweeted out a video stuffed with heart-tugging shots of babies under this headline: Every Little Baby is a Prince or Princess.

• Pizza Hut. Through Thursday, the pizza chain has rolled out an online only deal celebrating the royal baby. Folks who order large or medium pizzas and put the words ROYALOFFER in the promo code will receive one free side dish. "One of the last things new parents want to worry about is what's for dinner," says spokesman Doug Terfehr.

• Dunkin' Donuts. The doughnut chain on Tuesday rolled out the "Royal Munchkin," a box of doughnut holes dipped in pink-and-blue sprinkles. Why? "To make the moment a little sweeter," says Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands CEO, who is a dual U.S. and British citizen.

• Craftsman tools. William and Kate may live in a palace, but they still have to think about how to baby-proof their home, says Ryan Ostrom, chief marketing officer at Craftsman tools. So Craftsman has posted new videos — for first-time moms and dads — about how to do just that.

• Oreo. The cookie brand tweeted out a simple photo: An Oreo and milk-filled baby bottle sitting atop a very royal-looking, plush, velvet cushion. The tweet offers this: "Prepare the royal bottle service!"

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