Thinking of Christmas in the heatwave......
Posted by: Amanda Dennis -
It's a strange time of year if you work in the retail industry - particularly if you are involved with greetings cards and gifts. It is still hot and sunny, all the children are still off school, thoughts of University and College might just be formulating, and we are well into Christmas ordering!
In fact, on the hottest days of the year, I was doing Christmas card orders - and I am much later than a lot of shops. So whilst many of you were splashing about in the sea or sitting lunching in a lovely little cafe I was trying to work out if pink Flamingos really work on a Christmas card, or if Llamas are truly festive! Well do they and are they? We will see!
*
*
*
It is not just difficult trying to gauge the success of this years latest card fads in terms of Christmas, but also getting the correct mix of religious, art, traditional, cute, humour and even a bit risque! And how many cards should you get with a Robin on?
*
*
Then you have to sort out cards for all the relatives - how far do you go? Having a slightly limited space we stick to closest family members, as I believe our general Christmas cards are perfect for cousins, Uncles, Aunties etc.
There is a pattern, which occurs every year, in the way cards sell. First packs of cards start to sell, then general Christmas cards and then relatives cards. The last rush is for 'Happy Christmas to my Wife' in the last few days. Sorry gents if I have let the cat out of the bag! I have to admit last year we sold out of these before Christmas Eve, but this year I have risen to the challenge and ordered larger quantities, so there should be a good choice right to the end......
*
*
And then we have to consider gift wrap, gift bags, tags.
Not to mention all the unique, fabulous, unusual, special, little, large, handmade and perfect gifts we buy in to make your Christmas shopping just a little easier.
Remember us when it comes to THAT time of the year. Shop online or come in and see us. We also do free Click and Collect for the website.
We are one of the many Independent retailers that make the high streets of this country better places!