While many Islanders are squeezing in the final outings for their flip-flops, shorts and sun hats, Christmas decorations and Santa-themed gifts have begun creeping onto shop floors – around 16 weeks before the big day.
The early arrival has left some shoppers appalled, confused and asking one question: is it Christmas already?
But, according to two local garden centres, the festive countdown begins far earlier behind the scenes than it does for customers.
Making room for Christmas
St Peter’s Garden Centre and Ransoms Garden Centre both explained that stock must begin appearing in September because of the sheer scale of their Christmas operations.
Sam Edwards, department manager of furniture and Christmas at St Peter’s, acknowledged that “not everyone is ready to think about Christmas just yet”.
However, limited storage and staggered deliveries mean staff cannot leave everything until December – or even November.
“Starting earlier allows us to work through everything gradually and, most importantly, ensures that everything is ready in time for Christmas,” he said.
St Peter’s has also brought out a small selection of sale items earlier than usual this year, offering discounts of up to 75% to clear space.
Mr Edwards explained that garden centres must also manage products carried over from the previous festive season.
“If we accumulate too much carry-over stock, it can restrict us as a retailer because we have less space and less capacity to bring in the level of newness that our customers want to see each year.”
He added: “There has been some backlash online this year about starting the sale early, which we absolutely understand.
“For us, it’s really about finding the right balance between managing stock responsibly, creating space for new products and still giving our customers the Christmas experience and choice they expect from us.”
The work behind the tinsel
At Ransoms, head of marketing Evita de Vos stressed that preparing for Christmas is “not only about the stock”.
Displays must be taken out of storage, repainted and assembled, while large trees need to be decorated.
The garden centre’s outside canopy is transformed to accommodate fresh Christmas trees, its large sleigh must be rebuilt and polished for children, and Santa’s singing reindeer also need to make their annual return.
“Each year, we create large, themed rooms that are built by our small team of dedicated builders and a single visual merchandiser,” said Ms de Vos.
The work must begin in September so that everything is ready for Ransoms’ Gala Night on 4 November.
“It marks the official start of our Christmas season, during which customers can shop our entire range of Christmas stock at a discount while enjoying a mince pie and a glass of bubbly,” she added.
Meanwhile, St Peter’s is expecting more than 200 pallets of new stock this year.
Most will initially arrive at an off-site warehouse, where the products must be unloaded, scanned and checked for damage.
The pallets are then transported five miles to the garden centre – three at a time – before each item is unpacked, priced and arranged according to its festive theme.
Some pallets can take more than an hour to process because of the number of delicate decorations involved.
A year-round operation
Although customers may only notice Christmas appearing in September, preparations begin much earlier.
For staff, the main work starts at the end of June – while ordering stock and planning the festive season is effectively a year-round conversation.
Mr Edwards praised the dedication of his team, saying: “Some start as early as 6:30am before the shop opens, and we even work Sundays when the store is closed to keep the momentum going.”
And there is plenty to keep them busy.
“This year, we are doing 25 bays of hanging baubles this year, which will require 2,000 pegs to go out – a massive operation,” he said.
St Peter’s Christmas Preview Evening is due to take place on Thursday 22 October.
Not rushing Christmas – just preparing for it
For staff at Ransoms, getting several extra months of Christmas is one of the perks of the job.
“The festive season seems to pass by all too quickly, so for us, being able to enjoy it a few months in advance is a delightful extension of the most wonderful time of the year, and we feel incredibly fortunate for that,” said Ms de Vos.
So, if the sight of tinsel in September fills you with dread, there is no need to start writing your Christmas cards just yet.
The decorations may be out, but the garden centres say they are not trying to rush Christmas – they are simply making sure they are ready when the festive rush arrives.
