It’s been a slower start for Christmas sales so far this year, according to Epos data supplied for GTN Bestsellers, so all eyes and tills will be on sales during half term week.

 Interest in Christmas events is certainly running at an all-time high.  Ruxley Manor report that their Christmas Grotto tickets all but sold out within two weeks of opening their on-line ticket sales.  “We are ahead of last year,” said MD Andrew Evans, “and with our Christmas displays now fully open we’re expecting a busy half term.”

 At Chessington Garden Centre a host of Halloween events includes a Spooky Zoo, Scary films and a Spooky Tea for half term. MD Jolyon Martin said: “We are using Halloween to create new garden centre events in advance of our award winning Christmas Grotto.  We’ve got a good level of bookings on-line with Halloween itself the best day.”

The Wyevale group’s Bridgmere store is also advertising a Skeleton Hunt, Creepy Crafts and a Wicked Witch Ball.

The weather may of course play a part in sales volumes over the next few weeks.  A colder spell with some frosts would boost wild bird care sales as well as get more people thinking about Christmas. 

 
Above: weeks 36 to 42 Top 50 volumes

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...

l Garden Products – down 162%

l Xmas Products  – down 40%

l Growing Media – up 14%

l All items index – down 16%

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