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Artist Jonathan Greenyer said "Planning Christmas in October is just wishing your life away"
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What Bracknell thinks: Early Christmas displays

By Becky Barnes
October 22, 2012

This week we asked our panel if they had started planning for Christmas and what they thought about shops having Christmas displays.

We asked where they would be doing their Christmas shopping and if they had started it yet.

Jonathan Greenyer, an artist and author from Winkfield: “We have shops full of Hallowe’en merchandise and that’s still weeks away. Planning Christmas in October is just wishing your life away. It’s a sign of retailers’ desperation. Why not conflate them all and have generic stock available all year round – Hallowe’en vampire Easter bunnies on a surfboard with Santa?

“To have a great family Christmas is not about the hype, it is about true family values and they do not come from shopping for meaningless trinkets. Building an economy on buying unwanted gifts (mostly made in China) is pointless. And yes, I will be just as likely to visit Bracknell at Christmas as I am at any time of the year.

“Bah humbug!”

Chris Brown, a retired chemist from Binfield: “Advertising Christmas shopping in October feels like having your life sliced away in ever bigger chunks by some marketing folks.

“Let’s enjoy those lovely autumn days out in the country and gardens and start thinking about mid-winter once we get into December. If you are really desperate to get ahead with your Christmas shopping, do it in January and save some money in the sales. Otherwise let’s ignore the premature Christmas advertising and enjoy the rest of the year.”

Kayne Steinborn-Busse, head of sales & marketing at APC Overnight, Bracknell: “Personally, no, not yet, however in business, yes – Christmas is clearly a time when people send lots of parcels so we have to start planning in the summer.

“I was in a London store in August and it had opened its Christmas aisle – I think that’s a little too soon, November is a little more acceptable. I usually start my Christmas shopping around December 24 – it involves a mental rush followed by and even more uptempo wrapping session.

“I’ll probably shop at The Oracle in Reading and do some online shopping.”

Jo Ilott from Crowthorne: “Yes, I have started planning, just not really bought anything yet. My Christmas cakes are made though – ready to ice in December! I haven’t really seen any Christmas display as yet but would prefer they waited until nearer the time (ie November) – it takes a lot of the magic out of Christmas – it’s seen as just a big cash-in exercise.

“I haven’t started Christmas shopping yet, but a lot of it will be done online and when I go into London on December 12.

“I will do some of my shopping in Bracknell, mainly Bentalls, Argos – until better shops are available, I have to go elsewhere. Hurry up regen – we need you!”

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Most recent user comments 4 of 4

On the downside, early Christmas shopping is like having a desk in an orchid house staffed by tea-fuelled hyenas on crystal meth. On the plus side…nope, I’ve got nothing.

Timothy Jefferies
25/10/2012 at 14:48

I no longer allow retailers and advertisers to saturate my brain with Christmas before the end of November. I want to enjoy it, not be sick of it by 25 December.

I now try to avoid the shops during November when the enslaught really starts. If I do have to pop into a town centre, I simply walk past any shop that is playing Christmas music.

If I hear a Christmas song on the radio, I switch it off. Similarly, the TV goes off when there is an advert with a Christmas theme.

For this reason I would never by from the sofa retailer that advertises from about the 1st Week of October (over "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey), that they can deliver in time for Christmas. I won't mention names, but Devourer of Festive Spirit sums it up...

Scooby41
22/10/2012 at 12:35

Comercialistmas has been starting earlier every year since I remember.

I went to a great mid winter do a few years ago and to avoid Commercialistmas we were all instructed to make something ourselves to give.

My sister is doing secret Santa at her work this year, last year they had to spend under ten pounds, this year they have cranked it up and they have to spend less than one pound.

It seems that some of us are changing our approach to the season of demanding ungrateful children, over inflated expectations, over consumption and poor quality merchandise.

I hope that more people stand up to the pressure of Commercialistmas and that instead of buying stuff for our friends and families, we can give our time to them.