With nine shopping days left to Christmas, Libby Holden, owner ofå Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh, Essex, says there’s been a buzz and determination in her community to shop local.
How’s the run up to Christmas been Libby?
“Coming off the back of Small Business Saturday on 3 December, and the shift in supporting local high streets, people are definitely realising the importance and perks of shopping small,” Libby told GiftsandHome.net. “They are not only getting a product, but also getting an experience. At Lovely Libby’s, we’re a friendly face and listening ears. We giftwrap items free of charge and give a personalised shopping service. Thankfully, there’s definitely been a step change regarding shopping local, and long may that continue!”
How has the cost of living crisis affected how people have been Christmas shopping with you
“Customers were definitely shopping earlier in order to spread the cost, with the trend remaining consistent. Plus, another change we’ve noticed is a shift in the number of people that Christmas shoppers have been buying for. Many are choosing to only buy for immediate family, with some mentioning that the family had organised their own Secret Santa to minimise the cost of gift buying this year.”
What trends have you picked up on?
“Despite the doom and gloom in the news, we’ve nevertheless been delighted to see a general excitement in the air about finally being able to celebrate Christmas ‘normally’ with family and friends. There’s been a noticeable trend for home entertaining, with people buying into our barware range – nibble dishes, serving plates, and gin glasses – self-purchasing in preparation for hosting friends and family over the festive season, reflecting that spending has been diverted into different areas.”
How did you approach sourcing product for Christmas 2022?
“We held off from buying ‘novelty’ Christmas gifts – the kind of things that you keep out for the festive season and then put in a drawer never to be seen again. People want to feel they’re getting the most out of their money, with a definite shift towards purchases with longevity which can be used all year round.
“We also limited the amount of Christmas decorations we bought this year as we knew they were not going to be a priority purchase for many. Instead, we focused on what we knew would be popular – and, of course, that included lots of gonks! We also decided to buy more collective pieces, decorations that are timeless and hold significance, an example being our London Christmas collection, much of which came from Gisela Graham, with the most popular one a hanging red postal box with ‘ER’ on the front. Special decorations such as this are not only decorative they embody a memory and are something that will be put out year after year.
So far, is there anything that you wish you had bought more or less of?
“Our brand new LED water spinner Christmas tree! It was so well received that it sold out before December! We couldn’t get them in again from the original supplier and searched high and low for an alternative but to no avail. That decoration still haunts my sleep – we could have sold them 10x over, but I guess that’s just the reality of working in retail!”
How have you made the most of social media?
“We’ve increased the number of live videos we featured on our social media accounts, doing up to three a week. Videos are themed, focusing on everything from Christmas jumpers to gifts for under £20. They’re a great way to showcase our products, enabling us to reach and interact with customers near and far, essentially seeing us become personal shoppers. Making these live videos as fun as possible has the further benefit of allowing customers to get to know me and the girls, showing them that there is a real person behind the business!”
Top: The dazzling Christmas windows at Lovely Libby’s in Rayleigh.
