Store unwraps its Christmas goodies

SLEIGH bells ringing ... Getting in the festive spirit in September at Housing Units are staff membeers (from the left) Julie Yarwood, Joanne Fox and Pat Garlick

Customers demand early start, says boss
ANYONE just back from their summer holidays may be surprised to see Christmas displays already hitting the shops in early September.

But Hollinwood retailer Housing Units seemingly puts the tinsel up earlier every year — and insists it’s what shoppers demand.

The store opens its 2011 Christmas department today — a day earlier than last year’ s Yuletide effort and a full 108 days before Christmas Day.

However, bosses say customers have complained that it could have been even earlier.

Director Nick Fox said: “I’ve had dozens of emails, phones calls and letters of complaint that we’ve waited longer than a couple of the big London stores to launch our Christmas department.

“The main point seems to be that now the summer holidays are out of the way, people want to get stuck straight into Christmas. We believed early September was plenty early for Christmas — even though some people think it should be a lot later. But, overall, shoppers like it.

“Starting Christmas in September should be viewed as massively positive for shoppers, the local community and the business alike; far from being a cynical commercial ploy, it is the best way of helping both shoppers and the business make the most of Christmas during tough times.”

He said that just as families spread the cost of buying a summer holiday, with first payments months in advance, they want the same when it comes to Christmas.

Mr Fox added: “Everything in our research, statistics and customer feedback says that we’re doing the right thing.

“People are able to spread the cost of Christmas, and actually spend more over a number of visits than if they’d done a single last-minute hit closer to December 25 — the complaints about not opening soon enough underpin that.

“The Christmas and New Year break is becoming as big a spending highlight as the summer family holiday, but people aren’t confined to a few weeks to choose and buy their summer holiday, so why should they be confined to a few weeks to plan and buy everything they need for Christmas?

“So the opening of our Christmas department provides several upsides: people can spread the cost of Christmas, and, of course, we benefit as a business, which in turn benefits the local community.”

l Is it too early for Christmas shopping? Send your views to editorial@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.