With just nine days to go until Christmas Day, GiftsandHome.net asked a cross-section of gift retailers how the festive season has been shaping up.
“This is our third Christmas as MOOCH, our first with four shops, and so far it has been great,” enthused Rachel and Paul Roberts, owners of three MOOCH gift shops in Northamptonshire and one in Olney in Buckinghamshire. “The busiest time is still to come, but we’ve seen some really strong weeks even early on in the season. Our shopping evenings were particularly successful this year, and we saw some customers who came armed with lists and managed to get nearly all their Christmas gifts done in one visit.”
Adds Rachel: The other thing that has performed really steadily for us is our website, plus a mix of click and collect and deliveries has been really encouraging – definitely something that we hope to grow next year.”
Also hearing the festive tills ringing has been Jo Webber, owner of Jo Amor in Tiverton. “So far so good,” she confirmed. “Our quirky mix of gifts, fashion and cards, that we buy and build from July, is hitting the spot.”
Continues Jo: “Trading in a market town, we offer a wide range of products to appeal to all. But as they say, the job isn’t done until we close the doors on Christmas Eve. However, I know that we will have given it our best shot.”
It’s been good news too, for Spirito in Glasgow. “Last Christmas we had a quiet November and a really busy December,” comments owner Denise Laird. “This year it has been very steady since the beginning of November with customers starting their shopping early this year. It seems more manageable so far,” adds Denise.
However, things were a bit slower for Mooch Gifts & Home in Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn. “November didn’t see the usual early Christmas shoppers we have seen in the past,” comments co-owner Jon May. “However, following the ‘payday’ weekend we saw a flurry of shoppers through the door, and last week in particular reflected the realisation from shoppers that Christmas was only two weeks away. Hopefully this will continue now until we close on Christmas Eve. However a December General Election, Brexit and the continuous wet weather hasn’t helped the high street this Christmas.”
At Daisy Park in South Molton, it was a similar story. “Christmas has been very slow this year,” concurs owner Emma Paisey. “People aren’t feeling it this year.”
Top: Daisy Park’s Christmas window.
