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Original poster

Christmas stock low in shops?

72 replies

Onand · 11/12/2024 22:12

Just under 2 weeks until Christmas and it feels like there is nothing left in the shops in terms of wrapping paper and cards already- anyone else finding this? I remember the days when M&S had lots of card multipacks and amazing decorations- now their Christmas shop is abysmal. TK Maxx have hardly any Christmas wrap left and zero cards and yet a whole massive shelving rack filled with….packets of napkins 🤯.

Have stores under ordered deliberately expecting weaker sales due to cost of living?

OP posts:
user2848502016 · 12/12/2024 13:14

Lots left everywhere where I am. Try Tesco or Asda

RubyRedBow · 12/12/2024 13:06

I was in B&M a week ago and they already have Crème eggs and Mini Eggs out for Easter.

millymae · 12/12/2024 09:24

One of our local garages put a post on facebook yesterday announcing the arrival of cadburys cream eggs!

LoobyDoop2 · 12/12/2024 09:23

Yes, I was in B&Q last weekend and noticed that there were hardly any decorations on sale. Plenty of lights, but no baubles.
It’s annoying. I deliberately delayed starting any Christmas prep until this week, and it has worked really well for me- I’m actually just starting to be in the spirit. I won’t be dictated to by shops and drop shippers- if they don’t have stuff when I want to buy it, I’ll do without.

Clafoutie · 12/12/2024 09:20

Onand · 12/12/2024 08:12

I have a Sostrene Grene and I’ve done their wrapping before, my gripe is their offer never changes it always looks ‘Sostrene’ and their paper isn’t the best, insipid colours when they could really fill a gap left by Paperchase and have some fab bright things. Good ribbon though and fine for random bits.

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I really miss Paperchase 😥

KnittedCardi · 12/12/2024 09:16

Went to WHSmiths in small local town last week, packed to the gunnels with cards and paper. I think you need to go into the sticks to get the choice. Also we have the full range of Charity shops, lots of paper and cards there too.

Headingtowardsdivorce · 12/12/2024 08:29

Ghosttofu99 · 11/12/2024 22:54

It should be the law for shops not to ‘do Christmas’ until the 1st of December 😂

Three months of corporate Christmas is just too much, and too pressured. It takes away from the magic of December.

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Hear hear!

I really object to hearing Christmas music in the shops in bloody October. I love Christmas music, but only at Christmas!

rewilded · 12/12/2024 08:21

I nipped into M&S for a nice individual Christmas card, there was a flimsy one left for £4 that looked like it had been opened from cheap multipack and stuck it on the shelf!

Original poster
Onand · 12/12/2024 08:12

Clafoutie · 11/12/2024 23:00

Totally agree, and it means people have Christmas fatigue before we even get there.
OP, if you are lucky enough to have a store near you, try Sostrene Grene. They have huge amounts and choice of Christmas wrap and decorations, all high quality but very low prices compared to other places. It’s a revelation!

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I have a Sostrene Grene and I’ve done their wrapping before, my gripe is their offer never changes it always looks ‘Sostrene’ and their paper isn’t the best, insipid colours when they could really fill a gap left by Paperchase and have some fab bright things. Good ribbon though and fine for random bits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Onand · 12/12/2024 08:06

Windypinecones · 11/12/2024 22:51

It's not just Christmas. Same thing happens at Easter and Halloween - try buying an Easter egg in the actual week before Christmas. There's nothing left.

This is true too

OP posts:
GettingStuffed · 12/12/2024 00:50

Have you looked in charity shops? WH smiths had loads the other day.

Mossstitch · 12/12/2024 00:38

Likewhatever · 12/12/2024 00:02

I’m interested to see if there’ll be veg wars again this year. Produce has been poor quality and in short supply most of the year so will there be 19p parsnips in the week before Christmas?

Yes because Martin Lewis said so😂
Seriously tho i read from next week, think 19th/20th all the supermarkets reducing the veg👌

Likewhatever · 12/12/2024 00:02

I’m interested to see if there’ll be veg wars again this year. Produce has been poor quality and in short supply most of the year so will there be 19p parsnips in the week before Christmas?

pizzaHeart · 11/12/2024 23:43

Windypinecones · 11/12/2024 22:51

It's not just Christmas. Same thing happens at Easter and Halloween - try buying an Easter egg in the actual week before Christmas. There's nothing left.

You are totally right. I was at a big Sainsbury’s yesterday and there were no Easter eggs 😉

Growlybear83 · 11/12/2024 23:36

I went in WHSmith earlier today and it was bursting at the seams with wrapping paper and cards.

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/12/2024 23:36

Not at all here, NW coastal town. Shops fully stocked and staff working hard to fill shelves. Big shout out to them!

lazyarse123 · 11/12/2024 23:33

Homebase has some really nice wrapping paper and decorations, don't know about cards. It's a shame they're closing but there is a few bargains to be had.

slightlydistrac · 11/12/2024 23:32

Windypinecones · 11/12/2024 22:51

It's not just Christmas. Same thing happens at Easter and Halloween - try buying an Easter egg in the actual week before Christmas. There's nothing left.

DH once lost his gloves in February. I tried to buy him some more and it was a nightmare trying to find any shops selling them. It was all wall-to-wall summer t-shirts & shorts, and acres of swimwear

Londoneye20 · 11/12/2024 23:29

It's because it all starts so early and retail move on to the next thing asap. Easter eggs be in soon

BetweenADockAndAHardDrive · 11/12/2024 23:28

Hope not, haven't started on Christmas yet!

Zumarocks · 11/12/2024 23:27

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/12/2024 22:55

I saw plenty of really nice wrapping paper recently in WH Smith. Much nicer than the usual dreary offerings.

This is because they are the only shop still selling non-recyclable wrapping paper. I picked it up like a magpie then realised oh, I can't buy that lovely shiny stuff, it comes with a side order of environmental guilt. Bit backward really to still be selling that shite

Jellybeanz456 · 11/12/2024 23:19

They need the shelves empty by next week to start refilling them for easter.

TheDowagerCountessofPembroke · 11/12/2024 23:06

Clafoutie · 11/12/2024 23:02

Yes, and last year Easter eggs appeared in the supermarkets on Dec 27th!😮

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Decades ago I remember being in Woolworths on Christmas Eve and they were putting out the Easter Eggs.

Clafoutie · 11/12/2024 23:02

Windypinecones · 11/12/2024 22:51

It's not just Christmas. Same thing happens at Easter and Halloween - try buying an Easter egg in the actual week before Christmas. There's nothing left.

Yes, and last year Easter eggs appeared in the supermarkets on Dec 27th!😮

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/12/2024 23:01

Ghosttofu99 · 11/12/2024 22:54

It should be the law for shops not to ‘do Christmas’ until the 1st of December 😂

Three months of corporate Christmas is just too much, and too pressured. It takes away from the magic of December.

Show quote history

To me, having stuff in the shops early takes some of the pressure off. You can spread the cost and the hassle. One year, when very preoccupied with something else, I did absolutely nothing for Christmas until the 10th December. I wouldn’t want to do that again.

As for the year when I had to race around the shops buying all my family presents on Christmas Eve - it was over 40 years ago and I still have nightmares about that!

We were living abroad at the time, and had decided only at the last minute to get a flight home.

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