Shoppers at Marks & Spencer have been left scratching their heads over a festive decoration that appears to feature a rather obvious blunder. The £5 Christmas bauble, designed to resemble a sudoku puzzle, has sparked confusion and debate among customers.
The Puzzling Design Detail
The ornament is made from coloured glass and shaped like a grid, complete with a pencil motif and glitter detailing. However, keen-eyed customers quickly noticed something was amiss. Instead of the classic 9x9 sudoku grid filled with numbers 1 to 9, the decoration is marked with pink dabber spots, more commonly associated with a game of bingo. Furthermore, the numbers on the bauble go far beyond the digit 9, which is a fundamental rule-breaker for the logic-based number puzzle.
The confusion led one customer to post on Reddit's 'Casual UK' forum, stating: "I don’t think M&S know what sudoku is…" Another shopper expressed disappointment, noting: "Surprising for M&S to okay these sorts of items. Would expect it from other shops."
Marketing Blunder or Clever Strategy?
Despite the inaccuracy, the item has proven to be a commercial success. Priced at £5, the bauble is currently completely sold out online. Some buyers loved it regardless, with one fan commenting they would definitely buy it for their nan.
This has led to speculation that the error might not be a mistake at all. One online theorist suggested it could be a deliberate marketing tactic, designed to generate conversation and online correction—a method known to significantly boost engagement on social media platforms.
A Brief History of Baubles
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees began in 16th century Germany with edible items like apples and nuts. The glass baubles we know today originated in the mid-19th century in the German town of Lauscha, where glassblowers began crafting glass ornaments.
The trend was popularised in Britain after Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, introduced the decorated Christmas tree to the Royal Family in the 1840s. These glass decorations, known as "kugeln," were soon mass-produced and became a global festive staple.
While M&S's website describes the bauble as a way for "puzzle fans" to showcase their favourite pastime, it seems the design has created a puzzle of its very own for bewildered British shoppers this Christmas.
