Christmas has come early to one shop in Limerick after Brown Thomas officially unveiled the first Christmas shop to open in the city so far this year. While some schools have not yet welcomed back their students, the iconic O’Connell Street store officially open its ‘Christmas Market’ in preparation for the next 117 shopping days.
“The demand is there to open this early,” explained Brown Thomas living division manager Verette Gabbett, who added that a Christmas market has been a central part to Brown Thomas for over 50 years.
“We will begin to trade from the day we open and by November most of our Christmas trees will be gone. Many parents will begin their Christmas preparations once the kids have gone back to school. There is a lot of organisation and stress involved in Christmas planning so it really helps to be organised,” she said.
“We stock a lot of unusual hanging decorations which are the types of things you hand down from one generation to the next,” added Verette
However, one customer who saw the display said that it was putting pressure on people to begin thinking about Christmas already.
“I do think August is a bit too soon for a Christmas shop to be opening to be honest considering that there isn’t a lot of money around at the moment and I think the last thing people are thinking about right now is Christmas,” said Ciara Clancy from Patrickswell.
A second customer agreed saying that it was too soon as schools have only just opened.
“I think that its probably too early for it to be open as kids have just gone back to school but I’m sure it will be packed and there’ll be plenty of people going in already,” said Suzanne Costello from Pallasgreen.
However one person who was delighted to see the first signs of Christmas was three year old Charlie Collins from Caherconlish who says he already has his Christmas list made.
“I’m asking Santa for a Shipwreck Thomas this year,” he said happily.
“The demand is there to open this early,” explained Brown Thomas living division manager Verette Gabbett, who added that a Christmas market has been a central part to Brown Thomas for over 50 years.
“We will begin to trade from the day we open and by November most of our Christmas trees will be gone. Many parents will begin their Christmas preparations once the kids have gone back to school. There is a lot of organisation and stress involved in Christmas planning so it really helps to be organised,” she said.
“We stock a lot of unusual hanging decorations which are the types of things you hand down from one generation to the next,” added Verette
However, one customer who saw the display said that it was putting pressure on people to begin thinking about Christmas already.
“I do think August is a bit too soon for a Christmas shop to be opening to be honest considering that there isn’t a lot of money around at the moment and I think the last thing people are thinking about right now is Christmas,” said Ciara Clancy from Patrickswell.
A second customer agreed saying that it was too soon as schools have only just opened.
“I think that its probably too early for it to be open as kids have just gone back to school but I’m sure it will be packed and there’ll be plenty of people going in already,” said Suzanne Costello from Pallasgreen.
However one person who was delighted to see the first signs of Christmas was three year old Charlie Collins from Caherconlish who says he already has his Christmas list made.
“I’m asking Santa for a Shipwreck Thomas this year,” he said happily.