Thursday, 1 December 2022

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Wednesday, 30 November 2022

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Royal Mail strikes hit Christmas delivery dates. Please check here

As home delivery expert ParcelHero predicted, many retailers are pulling back their Christmas final order dates as Brits decide against expensive express deliveries and stores battle with the impact of planned Royal Mail strikes.

ParcelHero says many stores have now pulled back their order dates for Christmas deliveries. Wise shoppers are abandoning expensive express services while strikes threaten to further disrupt deliveries. This has led to some dramatic changes in retailers’ final order dates to ensure gifts don’t miss the big day.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: "Many of our favourite stores have woken up and smelt the eggnog and are rapidly dragging back their final order dates for Christmas. Already, stores like Boohoo, Currys, HP, Paul Smith and PC World have pulled back their last order dates by several days.

"There are two main reasons why retailers are revising their final order dates. Firstly, planned strikes affecting traditional postal deliveries just before Christmas could throw final order dates into disarray. Secondly, last-minute express and next-day deliveries can cost at least a fiver extra compared to standard delivery options. Cash-strapped Brits, facing higher bills and raging inflation, simply don’t have the money to burn on expensive delivery options.

"Many retailers will also be trying to save money by slashing Christmas delivery times. They pay their delivery partners extra for faster service. That’s normally a worthwhile expense at Christmas, as these faster options can give them an advantage over their competitors. But this year’s Austerity Christmas will see shoppers spend an estimated £4bn less than in 2021. Stores will feel the impact of this reduced spending and cannot afford to waste money. As struggling retailers Joules and Wilco will confirm, times are hard.

"Here’s our list of Responsible Retailers who have pulled back their Christmas final order dates:

Boohoo: was 23 December, now 21 December

Cath Kidston: was 22 December, now 21 December

Currys: was 23 December, now 18 December

HP: was 21 December, now 15 December

Paul Smith: was 23 December, now 19 December

PC World: was 23 December, now 21 December

Selfridges: was 24 December for London postcodes, now 23 December

The White Company: was 23 December, now 22 December

"Given the current strain on delivery services, we won’t be surprised if even more retailers pull back their final order dates as Christmas nears. That’s why our continually updated Christmas deadlines tool is so useful for keeping shoppers in the know with their favourite retailers’ final order dates."

To check the easy-to-use retailers’ final order and final mailing dates tool, see: https://www.parcelhero.com/events/christmas-gifts-delivery

(Image courtesy of John Liles and Pixabay)

Aldi serves up fantastic festive finger foods fiesta!

Ready to please any Christmas crowd, Aldi has launched a fantastic range of fabulously festive finger foods perfect for adding a bit of pizzaz to the party table this Christmas and New Year. With prices starting from a mere £2.69, these novelty shaped bites are sure to be a major hit, sprucing up any Christmas table.

For a centrepiece to wow even the most scroogie of guests the NEW Let’s Party Garlic Doughball Christmas Tree Bread (£2.69, 280g) is a festive shaped doughball that is sure to make an Instagramable highlight. Covered with a smooth garlic spread and sprinkled with parsley, encourage guests to get stuck in and tear off a portion for a tree-mendous delight. Available in store from 9th December.  

Or for a sharing snack with considerable style, the Specially Selected Cracker (£3.99, 400g) is available in stores from 30th November. This cracking pastry is hand finished in the shape of a Christmas cracker, wrapped in butter enriched pastry, filled with either Wensleydale, cheddar cheese and soft cheese with cranberries, or pulled pork and pancetta with cranberries, and a paprika and poppy seed sprinkle. (I want the cheese one!)

A British picky bit staple with a festive twist, guests can also enjoy the Breaded Chicken Christmas Trees (£2.99, 320g) from 25th November. These tasty bites are coated in a crunchy golden breadcrumb.

Or, perfect for a classic treat, why not try the NEW supersized Specially Selected Extra Large Christmas Sausage Roll (£3.99, 700g). At 24cm long the roll holds a succulent British pork sausage meat slathered in a choice of either a sweet chilli chutney or a cranberry sauce, encased in flaky puff pastry. Decorated with a pastry star for a festive feature, this favoured British delicacy is the perfect centrepiece addition to any Christmas party.

These decorative delights will be joining Aldi’s huge range of brand-new party food hitting Aldi shelves this Christmas season.

www.aldi.co.uk.

Brighton Perfume is a breath of fresh air in the perfume industry. And it's vegan

Do you want to give people you care about a perfume that is eco-friendly and sustainable and from the Winner of the 2018 OK! National Beauty Awards For Perfume Brings His New Perfume Collections?

Then you need to check out Brighton Perfume.

Brighton Perfume is a vegan perfumery existing in an open kitchen blending, atomising and symbiosing small batch natural fragrance.

Pao Pincerna has have developed a new contemporary way of making plant-based perfumes with a vision to revolutionise the industry. Born out the ideology of the 70s and 90s fashion and music scene to create a new golden age of contemporary perfume.

Perfumery is a science, a closed world of heritage; Did you know? There are fewer perfumers in the world than astronauts.

Pao Pincerna said: "I created my own machine to spin vegan elixirs in oil not alcohol, so I don't need to filtrate using animal products and don't have any wastage at all. Everything put into the perfume ends up in the final product. 

"It is called 'The Attarator' and uses waves programmed into a raspberry PI to create clear eco-friendly plant-based perfumes. I make the freshest perfume in the world, and am the most eco/sustainable perfume company in the world.

OUR COLLECTIONS

"I have launched 22 new Vegan Perfumes in three collections:

MODE

Front Up Perfume for Fashion Nova’s

FREEDOM, DEBAUCHERY, DISSENT

Is your Perfume #notuptoparfum?

GET IN THE MODE

8 Sassy French Style Oil Based Vegan Perfumes

HEDONIST

Perfume for all Non-Conformists

BOMBASTIC HEADY SCENTS. DRIVES YOU CRAZY

10 Persian Style Oil Based Vegan Perfumes Pushing the Boundaries

DAPPER

Superlative Style with a Modern Twist

SOUL RESONATING

Six classics of British popular culture revived over the tapestry of music

UNLOCK YOUR PERFUME DNA! 

"Brighton Perfume is not reminiscent of the past but forward thinking whilst noting the fact that perfume is nostalgic, the scent of your mother, father or first partner will bring back cerebral memories that make you feel alive and connected to a lifetime of dreams."

To learn more and to place your orders please visit https://brightonperfume.co.uk.


Looking for neat secret Santa presents or quirky stocking fillers? The Gluttonous Gardener is for you!

Looking for secret Santa presents or unusual stocking fillers?

Sick of socks? Bored with bath salts? Thew Gluttonous Gardener has the answer for you!

From glorious Growbars packed with seeds for the perfect herb and flower gardens, to letterbox-sized seed kits for dog lovers and adventurous cooks, The Gluttonous Gardener's range of plant-related gifts and presents really does have something for everyone. 

A spokesperson for The Gluttonous Gardener said: "We've been using recyclable packing and sustainable products for the best part of three decades. And we have always believed that the best gift is the one that keeps on giving.

"All our Growbars are priced at £12.50, and seed kits start from £18 excluding delivery."

Visit glut.co.uk to place your orders.