Card Factory starts Christmas card sales in middle of August

How early is too early to start prepping for Christmas?

Card Factory has shown that the height of summer is the perfect time to begin festive preparations after stacking their shelves with Christmas cards.

Despite it being the middle of the school summer holidays, some of the card giant’s branches have dedicated a section to festive greeting cards, gift bags and money wallets.

And although there are more than four months until the start of 2020, wall calendars and diaries for the year ahead were also spotted on the shelves.

Many shoppers in Staffordshire were surprised to already see cards on sale and complained that they want a chance to enjoy the notoriously short British summer first.

Mandy Allcock, 56, from Biddulph, said: ‘It’s not right it’s August. They’re skipping over summer big style and the kids are still on their school holidays.

‘We’re not even in autumn yet. I’d expect to see them in the shops in October when it’s Halloween and Bonfire Night in the run up to Christmas.

‘I guess they’ve got nothing else to promote at the moment and are just thinking where can we get money from. It’s not right, I’ve not even had my summer holiday yet.’

Pete Green, 69, from Hanley, said Christmas is stressful enough without having to worry about it months in advance.

He said: ‘I don’t want to see Christmas cards in the shops at this time. I’ve got grandchildren and they drive you crazy enough at Christmas.

‘I don’t mind it beginning on December 1 but I’m not going to be buying Christmas stuff yet’.

Another Hanley shopper called it ‘stupid’, adding she doesn’t buy any cards until December 20 and thinks October is even too early to sell festive goods.

But shopper Julie Brammer, from Birches Head, was less concerned and said many like to miss the Christmas rush and get prepared early.

The 50-year-old said: ‘It’s a business and I have no problem with it. People like and prefer to get their stuff early so they can watch their money.

‘Some people will be getting prepared for Christmas already.

‘I work in a cafe and people are already telling me they they’ve started their Christmas shopping, they like to do it early now. I’m all for it.’

Last year, the high street retailer also started stocking Christmas cards in the middle of August alongside ‘back to school’ displays.

But it seems others can’t wait for the holiday season to begin.

A Twitter user wrote: ‘Card Factory already selling Christmas cards.. surely that means I can put the tree up now?!’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Card Factory for comment.

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