Tag: last few Christmas markets

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Can’t quite believe it

My weeks seem to consist of work, study, family, dog and Christmas fairs at the moment.    Amidst the dashing from one thing to the next, I am always reminding myself to be grateful for being busy, however challenging that can be at times!

As I’m planning  my Friday, with a van to collect for the weekend and cars to load with stock etc around my work commitments and dog mum duties, I realise that I’ve only got one more weekend of events before Christmas.  The season that I spend most of the year planning and prepping for is almost over.  It always flies past, but this year it seems quicker.  Maybe because I’m getting older….

The main reason I created this business was to indulge my love of all things Christmas.  It’s been running for many years now, and each and every sale still brings joy to my heart.  I agonise over what stock to select, hoping that you love it as much as I do, not always getting it right (yes we still have some stock from the early days!) and in the early years I even made some of the decorations myself.  I hope to be able to go back to that, possibly once the business is making enough to allow me to partially retire?

The company has grown as my kids have grown, albeit not as quickly, and I still love running it so much.  There’s something magical about Christmas and I hope the decorations we stock help spread that magic a little more.  Perhaps we will get to meet you over our last few events for 2022 and help bring the magic to your home?

Cari xx

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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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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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Not many markets left…3 weeks to go!

A much needed rest day today – although there’s really no such thing as there is always something that needs doing!

Today it’s grocery shopping, pricing up some stock, collecting the van for tomorrow and hopefully studying too.  Then I’ll need to get everything loaded for tomorrow at Guisborough Forest & Walkway.  We’re taking everything with us for this one as we only have three other events before Christmas.  It would be lovely to sell out of most things so we can bring in more new stock for 2022.

Today is the last day for our FREE SHIPPING coupon too.  Thank you to everyone who has used it so far, it’s been lovely to drop parcels off at the post office on a regular basis this week.  My aim for the business is to have enough orders for a Royal Mail collection – who knows we may get there next year!

I was asked recently how long delivery is.  We try to send as many parcels using second class recorded as this fits in with our flat rate shipping charge, but if you need something quickly we are happy to cost up a quicker service.  Obviously how long it takes for your parcel to arrive is up to the Royal Mail staff once we drop it to the post office.

Last posting date will be looming though so if you want anything for Christmas order today to take advantage of free shipping with code ARWEN at checkout.