Why Christmas falls on 12 December

[Andrew Mellor]

From the BBC News website -

"This year, Christmas will fall on a Monday - 12 December to be exact. Well, at least for online retailers."

Read the full story here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4481568.stm

Any comments on this story - do you agree or disagree ??

Let's just hope it will be profitable and the stress will be worth it ...

[jont]

The stress is NEVER worth it

These sort of reports are so sweeping in their generalisations and the use of clever statistics makes me smile. The type of online shop and products sold will have a major impact into growth and seasonal increases but is never mentioned.

We have seen a steady growth online with bricks and mortar being about the same for the Christmas period (starting mid November for us). I am already over last years online sales with December still to go. Last year saw part of the website disabled in December as we were unable to process further orders - we have employed a new member of staff this year as a result and so far... touch wood ... we are just about coping (if working a 6 day week 13 hours a day can be classed as coping)

Busiest time for us will be w/c 5th December for the corporate purchases with the following week as suggested by the BBC site being the busiest for online retail sales.

Hopefully the profits at the end of it all will buy us a larger drink this year

[brian.mc]

For florists Christmas (or any occasion) always comes at the last minute. Customers think that because our product is perishable, they must wait till the last minute to purchase. This is, of course, untrue. They can place their order at any time during December, and specify a delivery date right up to Christmas Eve, but most still leave it till the last minute! Approximately 85% of our Christmas deliveries will be ordered between 21st-24th December!

[compendia]

That was an interesting article thanks for the link.

A few thoughts.

This 'Busiest day of the week' thing which has come up on the forum before is obviously tied very closely to wht type of goods you sell and thus your target market. My busiest day is always Sunday. The article said people browse at the weekend but buy from work, mine are the other way round. I think they browse at work but want to leave the commitment of buying to the weekend whent he boss won't interrupt them.

Interesting, and slightly worrying that so many of the public comments said that if you buy from a reputable retailer then there are less security worries. We're highly reputable among the people that know us! But obviously don't have a high street name.

Does anyone know which retailers contribute to all these doom and gloom surveys and figures. Am I right in thinking its the big high street stores rather than any independents, because I think the smaller independents have had a better year than the big boys.

Megan

[jont]

Does anyone know which retailers contribute to all these doom and gloom surveys and figures. Am I right in thinking its the big high street stores rather than any independents

Usually the big players (M&S etc) who release tales of gloom... so when the last minute rush starts they can smash their targets and projections and keep the shareholders happy ... or is that me being cynical again?

[george]

We've been busy for a while now, with last week being our busiest ever.

Better start early a week on Monday then.

[Riplees]

We are definitely getting busier towards Xmas and as Actinic and whipperleys new super fast servers (via excellent Pinbrook) can handle all the custom, i dont think the banks can handle the online transactions!

We have the customers ordering but they cannot pay us this morning via Protx "....Some customers may experience delays in the authorisation process. The shear volume of transactions the banks are having to process is reducing their authorisation response time. HSBC and Lloyds are highlighted as having the slowest authorisation times, but all banks may be affected. ..."

"may experience delays" could be changed to read "complete frustration and increased levels of annoyance and anger"

And yes its Monday as the article notes:

"Mondays are always our biggest days," says Iggy Fanlo, president of field operations at price comparison website shopping.com. "And in the run-up to Christmas, the second Monday in December is always the biggest day."

[Legends]

Better start early a week on Monday then.

What time are you setting your alarm for on Monday George?

Cheers

[george]

Dunno. Maybe have that day off.

[jont]

I'm looking forward to the cross-over point when the phones and emails turn from orders to "have my goods been sent yet?" ...... "your carrier has run over my parcel with a truck and I need it tomorrow" ... plus my favourite on the 24th December "any chance I can get 250 personalised widgets and get them delivered tomorrow in New Zealand?"

[george]

Do you's do personalised mousemats Jont?

[jont]

No - sorry ... try http://www.tshirtstudio.com/personalised/mouse-mats.asp

[kathynewman]

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas Everyone!!!!!

Be interesting to see how today goes.

Kathy

[jont]

I have had the sprouts on a medium boil since Thursday - hopefully will be ready for lunch time

[jont]

So how did everyone do? Sat with feet up watching the telly or working 23hours a day packing the orders?

We got a deluge of orders placed on Sunday so it was busy on the Monday but then got the same amount today so sort of spoilt the Christmas Day theory

ps.. sprouts were still a little tough so saving them for the 25th....