I’m sorry, it always feels too early doesn’t it?

I’m still mid recovery from major surgery as well, so I’m not officially back at work until September, but when my supplier emailed to let me know some of my new Christmas decorations order was available, I got excited.

I’m not allowed to do any lifting or bending yet though so it’s going to have to wait. I’m so eager to see the items in person, ordering from a website isn’t easy but needs must this year with my ongoing health issues. Hopefully 2026 will be a much smoother ride.

So, what do I have coming for this autumn/winter season? Well, I’ve gone quirky and cute, with tree decorations and more that you probably won’t find in the major retailers. Not everything is available just yet and I seriously need to sort the stock room as right now there is no space for all the new Christmas cuteness (in fact the shelves are overflowing with last years stock).

If you really can’t wait to shop in person, I have the team geared up and ready to send out orders right now (every online order gets an extra ‘thank you treat’ included right up to the end of September 2025). There is plenty still to choose from including one of the spectacular trains which got lots of approving comments at last years events.

If you don’t have the space for such a stunning Christmas ornament, you can choose from our colourful tractors or wooden box set decorations, just remember where you put them until it’s time to decorate your tree!

I will be sharing details of our autumn events soon if you prefer to shop in person with us. I hope you are as excited as we are to be back trading again!

Cari xx

I’m counting down the days until summer break. It’s one hazard of working in a school, everything is measured in terms. I’m always the ‘go to’ person who knows exactly how many weeks until the next holiday.

Of course, summer break also signals new season delivery day, and I honestly have no idea where the new stock is going. My stock room is full to bursting and I am busy declutterring the rest of our space so don’t really want stock cluttering it back up again.

I’m excited to see everything start to arrive though, the run up to Christmas is always my favourite part of the year (apart from the shorter days of course). I hope we have better success selling this year as we honestly can’t manage another 2024! Some bad event choices led to poor sales hence why the stock room is so full!

So, this year will see lots of clearance items available online, plus a smaller ‘new for this year’ order. There’s still a lot that needs to be checked, priced and listed though so I’m hoping my helpers will be available again.

Before all that, let’s enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures!

I’m over the moon that we are still getting orders through, I’ve been doing a little dance each time to celebrate. January and February are slower months with no markets to attend, so orders are very exciting!

While some Christmas decorations are now sold out, others are low in stock. This is great for us as it frees up space in the stock room, but means if there’s something you really wanted then waiting might mean it’s gone when you are ready to buy.

Tractors are proving popular and we only have a few red ones left now. We will restock for 2025 but they won’t arrive until September with the rest of our order. We need to restock the glass trees with coloured baubles as well as we’ve sold out of those.

A huge thank you if you have supported our Christmas Store over the festive season, it means the world and every order received now goes towards our new stock order for 2025.

Cari xx

Our trade fair is looming, which is when we get our first glimpse of what’s new for Christmas. It’s room after room of Christmas trees, lights, decorations and gifts – everything you could possibly want!

You may recognise some of these which we chose a year ago for Christmas 2024. It’s such a fun event for someone who loves Christmas as much as I do, but I do have a tendency to get carried away so try to snap what we like there, then choose and order later so I can be more selective. I wonder what we will see this year?

I’m wanting to build on our QuirkyBaubles brand so these may feature for 2025, who knows? Do you think they will find their audience?

Aside from this, my biggest supporter aka Mr Christmas is having a minor operation soon which could stop us going to the trade fair, it depends on his recovery. I will be sad to miss it but his health has to come first.

Thank you if you have ordered recently, we have been quieter than previous years but I always expect that. I still celebrate each and every order and hope that never changes!

Cari xx

Our next Royal Mail collection is booked for Monday, and while we know things will slow down now, I just wanted you to know we are still processing orders. We will ‘down tools’ for Christmas Day and Boxing Day as we need some family time, but now the children are grown up we have more free time to pack your orders. It also means there’s less chance of me shopping in the sales!

I’ve spent some time in the stock room but there’s still a lot to do before Christmas. I still have tubs of Christmas decorations in my dining room which have to move if I want to use the dining table! I’m not sure when it’s all going to get done but somehow it always does.

Do you spend Christmas at home, or do you stay with family? I’ve long held a dream of renting a cottage somewhere so that all the family can be together under one roof, but it’s never happened. What would be your dream Christmas?

Right, I better get on with sorting the stock room as I don’t think Santa can work his magic on that one for me.

Cari xx

Just a heads up, as last year we got quite a few orders over the Christmas break – if you want something to arrive before Christmas please order before 9 pm on 17/12/24. Unless you upgrade your shipping, tomorrow will be our last collection for Christmas delivery.

I’ve just spent half an hour trying to unpack all our market stock. We transport everything in plastic tubs, and to be honest they have seen better days, so that’s something that will need replacing in 2025. I’m not sure what I’ve done differently but I seem to have run out of shelf space despite having sold quite a chunk of the massive order I placed earlier this year. I would show you a picture but I’m honestly embarrassed at the state of my stock room. I had such grand plans, but with working part time around everything business related, it’s become a dumping ground. There’s too much furniture but I have a plan for that, just need some time over Christmas to work on it all. How I’m going to fit a new delivery in there I don’t know!

While today is the last day for ordering in time for Christmas, you can still order right through the Christmas break and I will be sending as frequently as I can. I still get excited every time an order kerchings through, and love locating and carefully packing your purchases. It gives me a lovely break from trying to maintain some order in the house! It might also help me with sorting space in the stock room.

I hope you have a lovely restful Christmas break and we will see you in 2025.

Cari and all the team at The UK Christmas Store

How are your Christmas preparations going?

I must admit to struggling a lot with it all this year, with losing dad in February Christmas will never be quite the same for me. Thank goodness then for my daughter, who has transformed into a Christmas planner extraordinaire. She’s made a list of what’s in the freezers, tidied and organised the dining table and the kitchen table, decorated the house and generally been a mini me (in happier times).

So, Christmas this year will probably be difficult for all of us as we try to adjust to a new ‘normal’. Dad was always the one sorting everything out, making sure we all had enough food and helping mum as much as he could when her health started to deteriorate. Of course we will try to enjoy the festive season as we have a small child in the family with another on the way. Children have a way of bringing out the joy in your heart when it feels like it’s only filled with sadness.

Of course this little boy helps me too. He’s just like a baby sometimes, lying back on my arm begging for belly rubs. I’m sure together we will navigate the season and enjoy some family time with a well deserved rest.

Our final markets are this weekend, at Bowes Museum and Sheriff Hutton Village Market, and I’m not ready but all will be fine. Then we will start all over again in January!

Cari xx

I’ve managed to catch this weird cough/cold thing that’s going around (not surprising when you also work in a primary school), and this morning I woke with such a foggy head and sore throat I wasn’t sure I would get through my hour and a bit at work. I’m now snuggled on the sofa under a blanket feeling sorry for myself and regretting agreeing to go on the dog walk today.

It’s actually quite frightening having a common illness after being so poorly two months ago. My immune system has taken such a battering and I’ve been warned that any infection can mean a trip back to hospital. I’m starting to get used to the aches and twinges from doing too much, and learning to listen to my body a bit more, but I still worry. My heart rate/oxygen gadget is my new friend.

Combining all this with running businesses has proved very hard this year. My energy levels are non existent, used up by my school job during the week and trying to recharge on a weekend. I’m so grateful for all our lovely customers who have helped us keep going when I’ve found it particularly difficult. Attending Wynyard Hall Christmas Fair really didn’t help me as it was two very long days (12+ hours) in a draughty and leaky chalet during bad weather. I’m still recovering and that’s probably why I have this cold now.

We’re almost at the end of our event season though, and while I’m sad to be thinking about packing our stall display away for six months I’m ready for a good rest. The Christmas break involves stock take and choosing our Christmas decoration range for 2025, but there will still be time to spend on our family traditions – nightly Mario Kart rivalry and watching lots of films.

Right, think the kettle needs to go on again, a cuppa is in order as I’m just not warming up today (and it’s not even that cold outside).

Cari xx

We love our musical merry go rounds and ferris wheels, and we want you to enjoy them too, so for this weekend only (30th November 2024 to 2nd December 2024) you can save a lovely £6 off the normal price. The best bit is all you need to do is add one to your basket and the code is applied automatically. I have tested it so please let me know if it doesn’t work for you.

So now all you need to decide is whether to get one or all three!

Cari xx

As we approach the end of our trading season, with December just around the corner (have you got your advent calendars ready?) I always take some time to reflect on what has sold well and not so well from our product range. There’s always some surprises and the biggest for me this year was past reliable best sellers not doing as well this year.

Bestsellers for 2024

I wish I’d bought more of these cute wooden countdowns as they sold consistently at markets, with the last one being snapped up at Wynyard Hall Christmas Market last weekend. I can understand why they were so popular.

We only had a few of these musical trees in stock, but they flew off the stall at our first event.

Metal signs have been a slow burner until Wynyard, when we sold out of this gingerbread bakery sign and almost sold out of the Good things come to those who bake sign. I’m thrilled they have found new homes!

Ok, so this is a sneaky addition to the list as we only had four and I’ve kept one for myself, but these bells were very popular. I still have a white one available.

Big surprises this year

Our larger festive glass tractors have not sold well and I have quite a few still in stock. I suppose that means I don’t need to reorder for 2025 but still….

A consistent bestseller, our range of glass character baubles have been a slow burner in 2024 which is very unusual. Along with the glass trees, they are usually snapped up at every market but this year we still have quite a few left. The glass trees have been more popular online this year.

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New market

Well, sort of. We have been to Hovingham a few times with our stationery business but in December we are bringing our Christmas decorations as well. This is one of a handful of markets we have left in 2024, but we will be sending out online orders every working day until the last posting dates, so please don’t miss out!

Plans for 2025

So, we get a short break over the festive period and then January sees us heading off to the trade fair to choose stock for 2025. As things stand it will be a smaller order than this year unless I get carried away again. I do find it very hard to be level headed and not let my heart/love of all things Christmas take over. However as 2024 has been a difficult year for various reasons I need to be sensible as we simply don’t have the space to be adding a lot of new Christmas decorations to the stock room. Running a small business is tough for many reasons but the biggest challenge I have is cash flow, particularly because we are seasonal.

I can’t wait to show you what we find for 2025, but in the meantime you can visit us at Crayke Village Market this weekend, Hovingham Village Market next weekend and then Bowes Museum and Sheriff Hutton Village Markets the weekend after.