Summer Hill Garden Centre in Billericay, Essex, has opened its Christmas section almost 20 weeks before the holiday, despite a heatwave with temperatures reaching 34C. The festive display has been available for two weeks, and the centre reports few complaints from shoppers.
Early festive display in Essex
The garden centre has dedicated a large area to Christmas decorations, including tinsel, lit-up reindeers, tree toppers, Drummer Boy ornaments, and cards. A worker at the branch said: "We've had the Christmas section set up for a few weeks now. The display is something we've done in August for a couple of years and it's always gone down well with our customers."
Some shoppers have been taken aback by the early display, but the centre says customers are already keen on festive shopping in August.
Retailers join the early trend
Other UK retailers are also beginning to roll out Christmas products. Social media users have reported a substantial Christmas craft selection at The Works in Cwmbran, Wales. Primark started selling Nightmare Before Christmas clothing last week, and seasonal chocolate tubs, including Roses and Quality Street, have been spotted at Tesco and Morrisons.
Debate over early decorations
The early displays have sparked debate online. A woman on Mumsnet questioned those who put up decorations before December, calling it "attention seeking." She described a neighbour who decorated for Christmas starting on October 31st, with a fully lit tree, outdoor lights, and a wreath. She asked: "Am I being unreasonable for thinking that someone who put Christmas decorations up at the end of October/early November is an attention-seeking loon?"
Not everyone agrees with her view, and the garden centre's early display appears to be well received by its customers.
