IT’S CHRISTMAS!!!
With all the ordering and planning finalised, talk turns to Christmas Shopping Evenings and the odd school fair!
Two are planned for this year, deciding on Tuesday 18th November and Thursday 27th with Cargilfield Christmas Fair in between on Friday 21st – an action packed fortnight then!
The first of the Christmas gift orders arrive mid September to give us time to unpack and price (and find some room for!) The largest order of decorations is usually 25 boxes!!
Customers from the start of September onwards ask when our Christmas stock is in and they have usually been buying gifts (to put away) since about May!!
When to launch – this is subject to discussion every year, mainly due to all the high street stores launching Christmas in AUGUST!!! Our take on it is ideally it should be after Halloween, but with so many customers asking, we put a ‘small’ section out early October – to whet their appetite!!
We plan our VM meticulously (which makes for a smoother launch) and as the first week of November looms closer the shop turns into a Winter Wonderland……we love it!!
It is our favourite time of the year – the shop has a fantastic atmosphere and all our customers turn into magpies, attracted to shiny, sparkly things!!
We save our shop window installation until just before our last Christmas shopping evening – this is the biggest and best of the year, courtesy of the fabulous Callum, who has gained inspiration & ideas throughout the year from his research and travels. It always looks fantastic…..you will have to see what this year brings!!
Here is our hall of fame:
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY – it starts in November and by the second week in December has almost reached its crazy peak! Every stage of the build up to the big day brings different requests. It starts with the ‘magpie’ customers when the first glimour of Christmas has appeared instore, then it’s the organised customers who have every gift bought and wrapped by mid November.
Then comes the card buying week at the start of December, tree decorating & wreaths just after that…..then just before the schools and workplaces break up its frantic Secret Santas and teacher presents, then a mad dash for last minute gifts and table decorations…..finally by Christmas Eve most customers are organised but we have the last minute ‘I need a card for my wife!’ and ‘Where’s the rollwrap and tape!’ – frantic!!
By 5pm on Christmas Eve (with not much left) we finally close our doors safe in the knowledge that all the presents we have helped choose & wrap, cards sold, decorations put on trees will be appreciated by happy recipients and guests!
‘Perfect Gifts For Everyone’ – ready to do it all again the next year!!
