Tag: buy Christmas decorations north east

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It always surprises me…

…how different Christmas decorations are popular depending on where we are.  One day I might write a book on the subject, but for now here are my observations.

Animal decorations are popular everywhere

Fewer children than you think want gifts in exchange for their siblings

Tractors are very popular in North Yorkshire in 2022

Beer signs sell better further North

Someone somewhere DOES want a glass burger on their tree

 

Its nice to see our stock tubs running down.  When the delivery arrived I had to invest in more storage as we don’t yet have a proper stock room (goal for next year) and running a growing business from home means space is at a premium.  With Christmas less than 4 weeks away we kind of need our dining room back!

Im thrilled how much busier our website has been, so a huge thank you if you’ve ordered through it this year.  As always, we are doing our best to keep a quick turnaround so you have a good chance of getting your order quickly.  I send most parcels first class signed for but occasionally have to use second class signed for.  We have an integrated system that updates stock levels on the website as we sell at Christmas Markets, but occasionally this lets us down, so if there’s something you want please don’t leave it too late to order.  Postage and packing is a flat rate £5 no matter how much you purchase.

More Christmas markets this weekend with a 2 day event at The Dorman Museum and a local school Christmas Fair on Saturday.  It’s scary how close we are to the end of the season, I’ll be prepping for 2023 before I know it!

Cari

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Stock delivery – how many boxes?

It’s exciting times here at UKCS Towers, with our stock for 2022 due to arrive.  While I’m contemplating how to unpack, check and price up all the new Christmas goodies with our puppy ‘helping’ (ahem!), I’m also curious as to how many boxes will arrive.

Its a guessing game we play every year.  The stock arrives on a large HGV rather than a transit, so could be pallet loads or a few boxes – who knows?

The other occurrence we have every year is how some items are larger/smaller/better than we anticipated – we order from a website image each year and it’s often hard to judge until you see them ‘in the flesh’.  It’s one of the reasons I get so excited for this time each year.

Our events calendar is looking a little healthier, with a nice balance between larger scale events and local school fairs.  I do try to support some local organisations each year even though the larger events are more cost effective business wise.  If you want to visit us at one of our events we have a list on our socials.

I’m planning to vlog delivery day, so if you don’t already please find our YouTube channel and subscribe (it’s free to do and encourages me to vlog more often!)

Cari

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Searching for Christmas Markets.

The countdown to our busiest retailing period is on.  Christmas stock should be arriving in a few weeks, at which point it will be available to buy online (once I’ve checked through everything!)

If you didn’t know, Royal Mail have announced a series of strike days which of course would affect our deliveries, so we’ve been arranging alternative courier services at no extra cost to you lovely Christmas fans.  Of course if you still prefer to shop in person you can buy from our stall at events throughout County Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire.

Sadly Redworth Hall Hotel Christmas Fair isn’t on this year, but we will be at Gisborough Hall Hotel.  There are other events we’ve enquired about which we’re still waiting to hear back from, but the diary is looking quite sparse this year.  If you know of any large Christmas markets please do let us know.

Less than 100 days to go until the big day!

Cari xx

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Christmas has had its first outing of 2022

We were at Thirsk and Sowerby Festival on the Flatts recently with our other business, and decided to test the water by showcasing some of our 2021 stock – yes, in August!  While it might be too early for most, it certainly got people to notice and we were able to chat about our family run business and hand out flyers we got printed last year.  One of my goals is to make our online shop more profitable as so far in person event sales are the biggest source of income but take up time and money to attend.

It’s a shame we haven’t found any larger scale events a bit closer to home that have space for us.  In addition to events we attend each season, we’re keeping our fingers and toes crossed we will be successful with our application for Beverley Christmas Market this year.  It will be lovely to see how the event is run but I’m expecting demand to be great.  We will keep you updated!

So far this year we will be at Redworth Hall, Gisborough Hall and Bowes Museum, if you know of any other events please share them and we will take a look.

Cari

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What’s in store this autumn?

I’m already so excited for our 2022 Christmas stock to arrive.

Its always a challenge trying to get everything unpacked, checked for damage and added to the website each year, but this year will be even more tricky because of this little guy.

Photo of our dogHe loves woofing at delivery drivers, is even more eager to get into parcels than I am, and generally thinks the world revolves around him.  He’s loved so much but the thought of trying to navigate new Christmas stock with a puppy – oh my!

Somehow we will manage though.  The things I have on order for this year include returning favourites and new – would you like a sneaky peek?

 

New Christmas stock

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed that it is all in stock and arrives as planned, so that we can have a fantastic start to the season.  What decorations would you like to see available?  Do you have a colour theme for Christmas?  I’d love to know.

Cari xx

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It’s always a tricky one – our last Christmas markets of 2021

I really love Christmas markets.  There’s something magical for young and old, especially at the best ones.  Even as a stall holder you can feel the excitement, that tingle down your spine in anticipation.

Bowes Museum has long been towards the top of our list for ‘must attend’.  I remember one year it was so cold the fountain froze over enough for the more daring visitors to stand on.  That was tough.  The cold seeps in no matter how many layers you wear, and obviously the more layers, the longer it takes when you need to ‘pay a visit’.

I’ll leave that one there.

Bowes Museum Christmas market is over three days.  This causes problems at Our Grotto as I’m usually at work, unable to take the day off.  I try to persuade the Head Elf to go instead, with varying degrees of success.

We were facing the same dilemma this year. Friday would be my last day of work before Christmas.  Head Elf was all set to go, taking the teenage Elves along for assistance.

Then our plans changed.

Work was having to shut a week early, which was really disappointing as the last week before Christmas break is the best – filled with class parties and Christmas Dinner.

The one silver lining is that I can now go to Bowes on Friday – YAY!

I’m so excited to be there all three days this year.  I think we might have to have a special offer or two to celebrate.

Cari

 

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We have events booked!

Well, what a week it’s been.  Flat out with my day job in a local school, trying to arrange stock deliveries and the sale around it – I’m exhausted!  How is it only the end of the second week back?

I did have a lovely email drop into my inbox though – if you have ever visited one of these events you will know how popular they are.

Logo for Christmas Fairs run by Your Main Event
Two of our favourite events returning this year

I’m really hoping that nothing changes and we are able to attend both Redworth Hall and Gisborough Hall Christmas Fairs.  Please put the dates in your diaries and keep your fingers crossed – after all, we have all missed out on so much over the last two years!

Our sale has now ended – sorry if you missed it!  It’s well worth joining our newsletter for updates like this, or you could always follow us on Facebook and Instagram (I’m going to be using both a lot more over the next few months).

If you can’t manage a visit to either of the Christmas Fairs above, we are also going to be at Gisborough Forest & Walkway with our stall on 5th December.  They aren’t running a market this year but will have Christmas trees for sale and are inviting traders to set up alongside the visitors centre.  I think we will need to wrap up with lots of layers!

I hope you are as excited about Christmas as we are – it will be here soon!

Cari xx