Festive dressing puts the eyes on indie greetings retailers’ imagination
It’s very true that the eyes are the windows to the soul so, in the case of independent greetings retailers, it’s the windows that are the eyes into the soul of their stores.
And that’s especially true at this time of year when shopkeepers go all out to show off their wares and attract people in for the fabulous festive season.
PG Buzz has been keeping an eye out – see what we did there! – on what lovely indies have dreamed up for Christmas 2022, and here’s a pictorial round-up from around the country.
Above: It’s all about the advent calendars at the Medici Gallery in South Kensington
Above: There’s a right royal flavour to the mix of Christmas and new interiors at the Solihull outlet of Bentley’s and Madison – and the card racks feature in the mirror
Above: Paper Tiger looks warm and inviting in Edinburgh
Above: A beautiful tree above the door adds the finishing touch at In Heaven At Home in Market Harborough
Above: The gorgeous post box in Hugs & Kisses’ Tettenhall window is back in position after being borrowed for a lovely wedding prop
Above: Wishes owner Julia Keeling worked really hard on the stencilling around her Cudworth window
Above: Taunton’s Rocket And Bird has gone distinctly winter wonderland
Above: There may have been an overnight issue at Stationery Supplies in Marple, as owner Sarah Laker laughed: “Life as a small business owner isn’t all rainbows and unicorns…sometimes the Christmas window it took seven hours to create collapses on a Saturday afternoon and you have to spend part of your Saturday evening rebuilding it. So now it’s a very wonky Christmas tree, but trees are wonky aren’t they?”
Above: If the name is The Card Centre, then cards have to be the focus in Felixstowe
Above: A distinctly gingerbread flavour at The Highworth Emporium, near Swindon
Above: Maybugs’ Eastbourne store is all wrapped up in lights
Above: Star light star bright at Box Of Delights in Flitwick
Above and below: There’s a few finishing touches to go before the weekend such as a couple of pedestrians, the obligatory dog, and lights, then Austin & Co’s Malvern window will be complete.
Owner Sean Austin explained: “Some would relish such a large window that once belonged to a department store but, as a small independent shop, the space raises questions of whether you fill it full of stock or go big.
“Given the size of the window, it would cost a small fortune just to put stock in there. The alternative of going big is that props and, indeed, making them would be just as expensive not to mention time consuming. In the past I’ve begged, stolen ideas and borrowed.
“So, it all started way back in the spring when I was ordering Christmas cards from Linda, The Art File sales rep. Spotting the St Nicholas Street Christmas card range, I instantly thought it would make the ideal Christmas window – and, from a card measuring barely 7×5″, The Art File kindly produced the card images as A0 posters.
“The graphic windows on the posters have been cut out to enable stock to be displayed behind the faux shop window giving a concise representation of what lies in the shop. It also means I’ll be able to rotate items on display much more frequently in the run up to Christmas without disturbing the overall look. I’m so pleased with how it turned out, and relieved it’s finally in situ.”
