Christmas stock low in shops?

[Onand]

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?

My friend took a photo last week at B&M in Desborough or Kettering - she shops both at these of Creme Eggs.

It was this day last year I was putting out the delivery of the small cases that come in totes and I got out two cases of Creme Eggs. I said "guess what I have!. Then waved a case in each hand. "For Fucks Sake" and general groans from everyone in the warehouse.

I think its a fixture now. Think I saw an advert on FB with Aldi doing this from 19th Dec.

Will miss out on the free veg this year. As some years head office gives us communications that any of the 15-19p veg is dated before 25/12 - its free to colleagues. As customers don't want them. Spuds last for weeks.

Nope. Every shop I've been in is rammed full of xmas tat. I didn't pay any attention to cards though, they're pretty obsolete now, so I wouldn't expect anywhere to bother much with them.

Think cards are a dying breed! People are put off by the price of stamps (RM could do a card only stamp for at least half the price and get more money) and those who appreciate the cards are no longer alive.

I picked up some wrapping paper a couple of days ago and it was all a bit crap. None of the nice looking stuff. Weird, unchristmassy harlequin and marble patterns. The cards looked rubbish too and some decorations I wanted ran out and haven't been replenished.

I got a Christmas pud too as they normally sell out very quickly. A family worker works in Asda she said there just aren't enough staff to replenish stock regularly enough and there were cages of stuff out the back, but not on the shelves.

Yep all gone here. B&m have started putting stuff out for the new year. Couldn't find any tree lights. Theyve had Xmas stuff since September.

Yep same here, M&S in particular seem to have sold out of most of their Christmas stuff. I went to buy one of their mandarin & clove candles yesterday- sold out! Hardly and tins of Christmas biscuits or chocolates left either.

It's not a bad thing that shops aren't stocking ridiculously huge quantities of things. I always used to think it was awful to go to the shops the day after Christmas and there were huge piles of Christmas stuff everywhere being sold off at half price or less which would ultimately be waste if not sold. Massive waste of resources and incurring losses for the businesses.

I agree. Whilst I happily stock up on reduced paper, it is better if there isn't the massive overstock in the first place. So I'm going for it being a good thing that shelves aren't overflowing two weeks before Christmas.

Yeah I noticed this week that there were hardly any crackers left. Meanwhile, with 2 weeks before Christmas, Home Bargains has started putting out Easter stuff 😲.

I've been shopping today in M&S, Sainsbury's, b&q and the range and I was surprised at how much Xmas stuff they still had left!

There is nothing worse seeing Christmas crap still only got 10% off stuffed in a sad corner of a shop in March.

Reduce things after Xmas cheap to get them out of the way plus people will need to retrieve their boxes etc to put their decs away. Better doing the reductions then later.

When I worked at my last job, each year, we had something we ran out quickly and something we had loads left.

Christmas crackers have been in both extremes. I remember buying £15 crackers for £1 afterwards Then another year, we sold out around 22nd.

Other things we ran out over the years include Bucks Fizz, cranberry sauce. Then other years we had loads of turkeys - esp Xmas 2020 and fresh party food.

Plenty of stock here for those who want to buy it. I usually avoid shops at this time of year but had to go into town this week and couldn't believe all the crap on the shelves.

A friend of mine always puts a Cadbury Cream Egg in her teen/adult DCs stockings. They are widely available from any day soon.

I've always bought bits like paper, cards, early. Because I started buying presents in September for budgetary reasons. I did see tinsel in Tesco last week.

I'd ask on a local FB page.

B&m sold loads off in black Friday sales decorations, lights
Range have loads left
Tesco had a few bits

To be honest I'm one of those 'idiots' that start to buy it when it comes out in August/ Sept. Because it spreads the cost and if see things dc will like I get it. I've learned in the past that often once it's sold out it doesn't get re stocked. Therefore I put it away for Xmas when I see it.

All my shopping and wrapping is done before December.

Where? The tree ornaments are so expensive this year I haven't bought any new ones yet.

My tree ornaments are the same age as tree - 17 years old.

There's no need to buy new every year.

So are mine but I like yo add one or two each year as some get broken .

They probably got the memo that people aren't sending cards much now

Borders Scotland here. Not a packet of bread sauce to be found! We got the last box of stuffing mix after trying three shops last week!

THIS

We have a Scribbler but it’s very sweary and jokey absolutely not the same at all. Paper chase always had great cards and wrapping paper guaranteed.

packet bread sauce looks like baby’s vomit. Make your own. Much nicer