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Helping Your Customers (and Your Business) Through Tough Times: Why a Christmas Savings Club Makes Sense

As the cost of living continues to rise and economic uncertainty looms, both businesses and their customers are feeling the pressure.

In the face of these challenges, forward-thinking retailers are looking for practical ways to offer real value and build long-term loyalty. 

One such initiative is the Christmas savings club — a modern take on a trusted tradition that can make a significant difference for families planning ahead for the festive season.

But it doesn’t stop there. There are several ways your retail business can support customers while strengthening your own resilience in the market. Here's how.

1. The Christmas Savings Club: A Simple Solution with Big Impact

Christmas savings clubs have been a community staple in the UK for generations. The concept is simple: customers put aside a small amount of money each week or month throughout the year, then redeem it as vouchers, credit, or goods in your store in time for the festive season.

Benefits for customers:

Spreads the cost of Christmas, avoiding last-minute debt. For example, putting £10 a week into your savings club would, over a year, give your customer £520 toward the cost of their Christmas.

Offers peace of mind and a sense of control.

Encourages savings habits in a manageable, low-pressure way.

Benefits for your business:

Builds year-round engagement and customer loyalty.

Increases guaranteed footfall and festive period sales.

Helps with inventory forecasting and cash flow planning.

Tip: Make your club flexible — offer digital tracking, low minimum contributions, and rewards like a bonus for early sign-up or regular saving.

2. Offer Interest-Free Payment Plans

With many households watching every penny, flexible payment terms can be a lifeline. Offering interest-free instalment options on bigger-ticket items or bulk Christmas purchases (like toys, hampers, or electronics) can make your products more accessible without devaluing them.

Tools like Klarna, Clearpay, or your own in-house payment plan can be a practical way to support customers in spreading the cost over time.

3. Introduce a Loyalty or Points Scheme

Give something back to customers for sticking with you. A simple points-based system (e.g., spend £1, earn 1 point) that leads to discounts, vouchers, or even exclusive access to Christmas offers can foster loyalty and repeat visits.

In tough times, every little saving counts — and your customers will appreciate a retailer who recognises and rewards their custom.

4. Host Budget-Friendly Events and Workshops

Use your retail space (or online platforms) to host community-focused events. This could include:

Free festive craft or gift-wrapping workshops.

Christmas cooking on a budget demos.

Toy swaps or charity donation drives.

These low-cost or free events not only drive traffic to your store but also strengthen your role as a supportive part of the community.

5. Create a ‘Value Range’ or Highlight Budget Buys

Not every customer can splurge, especially in current times. Create a dedicated value section in your store or on your website featuring budget-friendly items for Christmas — whether it's gifts, décor, or food.

Clearly labelling multi-buy offers, value bundles, and affordable alternatives will help shoppers feel confident that they can celebrate without overspending.

6. Partner with Local Charities and Food Banks

Show your business’s commitment to the community by partnering with local organisations. Consider donation bins, "pay it forward" schemes, or matching customer donations with a small business contribution.

This kind of involvement builds goodwill and trust — and can make a real difference to those in need.

Running a Christmas savings club and offering thoughtful, community-minded support isn't just the right thing to do — it’s good business. In uncertain times, customers are more likely to stick with retailers who understand their reality and offer solutions that ease financial pressure without sacrificing the joy of the season.

By becoming a partner in your customers’ wellbeing, your retail establishment can build loyalty, generate goodwill, and secure a more stable, community-focused future.

How to Organise a Christmas Charity Event in Summer

Who says Christmas spirit is only for December? Hosting a Christmas charity event in summer is a fantastic way to raise funds for a good cause, inject some festive fun into the warmer months, and remind people that giving back is always in season. 

Whether you’re fundraising for a local food bank, children’s hospital, or a global cause, here’s how to bring the magic of Christmas to life — even in flip-flops.

1. Choose Your Cause and Set Clear Goals

Start with purpose. Decide what cause or charity your event will support and set specific, measurable goals. For example:

Raise £1,000 for a local animal shelter

Collect 500 toys for underprivileged children

Provide 200 meals for the homeless

Contact the chosen charity ahead of time to coordinate, promote the event together, and ensure your efforts align with their current needs.

2. Pick a Suitable Date and Venue

Aim for a weekend date during early or mid-summer when people are more likely to be free and the weather is relatively predictable.

Venue ideas:

Community centres

School fields

Church halls

Local parks

Your own garden (for smaller gatherings)

Make sure the venue has enough space, facilities, and accessibility for your expected turnout.

3. Create a “Summery” Christmas Theme

Mix festive traditions with summer vibes for an unforgettable theme. Think "Christmas in July" or "Santa on the Beach".

Decoration ideas:

Inflatable snowmen wearing sunglasses

Red-and-green bunting with palm leaves

Festive fairy lights strung around gazebos

Sand snowmen (yes, really!)

Encourage guests to dress up — Christmas jumpers are optional, but Santa hats and Hawaiian shirts? Perfect.

4. Plan Activities and Entertainment

A charity event needs attractions to draw a crowd. Blend traditional Christmas elements with summer favourites.

Fun activity ideas:

Christmas BBQ or picnic with festive treats

Summer carol karaoke

Santa’s Grotto (with a fan to keep the suit bearable!)

Craft stalls selling summer-Christmas fusion goodies

Raffles and tombolas with Christmassy prizes

Outdoor games with festive twists (e.g., reindeer ring toss)

5. Involve Local Businesses and Volunteers

Reach out to local businesses for sponsorships, donations, or services. Many will be keen to support charity work, especially if it gets them some positive local PR.

Ask for:

Raffle prizes

Catering support

Venue discounts

Volunteers for setup and cleanup

Promote their involvement on your flyers, social media, and banners at the event.

6. Promote Your Event Early

Use the surprise factor of a Christmas event in summer to your advantage with fun and creative marketing.

Promote via:

Facebook Events and local groups

Instagram Reels or TikTok videos showing “Summer Santa”

Flyers in community hubs (cafés, shops, schools)

Local press or radio

Your blog or website (hello SEO boost!)

Encourage pre-registration or ticket sales to estimate numbers and cover costs.

7. Prepare for Weather Surprises

Yes, it’s summer — but it’s also Britain. Have a wet weather plan, such as renting a marquee or choosing a venue with indoor options. If it’s hot, provide shaded areas, plenty of drinks, and sunscreen stations.

8. Keep It Eco and Budget-Friendly

Consider reusing Christmas decorations from December, encouraging attendees to bring reusable cups/plates, and sourcing supplies locally. Keep costs low so more money can go directly to your cause.

9. Capture the Festive Fun

Hire a photographer or set up a DIY photo booth with themed props. Share the photos online with your donation links to generate more support even after the event.

10. Follow Up and Say Thank You

After the event, thank everyone — attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Share how much was raised and how it will help the chosen cause. A heartfelt social media post or newsletter goes a long way.

Final Christmassy Thoughts

Organising a Christmas charity event in summer is a brilliant way to combine festive cheer with the feel-good factor of fundraising. With the right planning, a bit of creativity, and a splash of sunscreen, you’ll not only support a worthy cause but also give your community a truly memorable day.

Because the Christmas spirit should never take a holiday.

Eboracum Roman Festival brings centurions to the streets of York!

Return of the Romans! Eboracum Roman Festival brings centurions to the streets!

Saturday 24 May to Saturday 31 May 2025

The sound of a cornu, a type of traditional Roman horn, will resound around the streets of Eboracum this weekend (from Saturday 24 May) to mark eight days of family-friendly events, parades, tours and trails throughout modern-day York.

Eboracum Roman Festival is a long staple in York’s festival calendar, bringing the colour of the city’s Roman founders back to life. 

At the heart of the bank holiday weekend celebrations will be a free living history encampment in the Museum Gardens. A host of costumed characters, illustrating military and civilian lives, will set up camp on the central lawn, directly in front of the Yorkshire Museum, featuring Ermine Street Guard, Comitatus, Longthorpe Legion and Griffin Historical. The living history encampment runs from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

With plumed helmets and polished armour, Eboracum’s soldiers will display how fearsome these warriors would be when they parade from the Yorkshire Museum to York Minster on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 12 noon each day. 

The perfect photo opportunity, the march route leaves the Museum Gardens, heading up Lendal to St Helen’s Square, and then heading up Stonegate and through Minster Gates to muster outside the South Front. On Saturday, the return route heads through Bootham Bar.

“The military garrison sat at the centre of Eboracum, with civilians setting up home, and trade, in the areas around, and this is the foundation of the modern city we see today.

"During the Festival, visitors will be able to see both the military might and the trades, from carpentry and pottery to blacksmithing and even a Popina – a first century fast-food café,” comments Siona Mackelworth, Head of Audience and Programme for York Museums Trust.

“Inside the museum, we’re also hosting fun Roman-themed activities, from storytelling to mosaic-making, as well as a talk on Roman Coins by David Michaels in the Discovery Den.”

For those wishing to venture elsewhere in the city, from 29 – 31 May, costumed interpreters from Days Gone By will tell stories of York Minster’s connections to the Roman city, with crafts, handling objects and a Roman soldier on hand, too. Sessions run Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm, and are included within admission to York Minster (which is completely free for York residents).

At DIG in St Saviourgate, visitors will be able to make a Roman face pot, with sessions running daily from 24 – 31 May from 11am to 3pm, priced at £3 per person. Visitors to the attraction can also see the only skeleton in the world that is believed to show a lion bite on a gladiator! Normal admission prices apply.

A free Roman treasure hunt is also running each day throughout the city centre on 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 May – an ideal way of keeping children occupied and engaged!

To discover the hidden Roman history of York there are walking tours in the centre of the city on 27, 28. 29, 30 and 31 May.

For those who are more academically-minded, the Festival also includes a host of talks featuring eminent Roman historian Mary Beard, York’s own Peter Addyman, CEO of York Archaeology David Jennings.

Also featured is Tom Moore of Durham University and Sophia Adams of the British Museum who will talk about the recent Melsonby Hoard iron age finds which are currently on display in the Yorkshire Museum. The latest archaeological research on Roman York will also be highlighted on 23 May 2025 with a special symposium at Tempest Anderson Hall.

https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/roman-2025/

https://visityork.org/events/eboracum-roman-festival-2025

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Early Bird Guide to Christmas Shopping

While the rest of the world is still clinging to pumpkin spice and autumn leaves, savvy shoppers know that now is the perfect time to start planning for Christmas. 

Getting a head start on your festive shopping isn’t just smart—it can save you time, money, and stress when December rolls around.

Here’s your Early Bird Guide to Christmas Shopping, with tips to help you sail through the season like a sleigh on fresh snow.

1. Make Your List (and Check It Twice)

Before you start browsing the shops or clicking through online deals, take time to jot down who you're buying for. Include:

Family

Friends

Teachers or colleagues

Secret Santa recipients

Neighbours or delivery drivers (if you like to gift locally)

Also, set a rough budget for each person. It helps avoid overspending and keeps things manageable.

2. Set a Realistic Budget

Start with what you can comfortably afford overall, then break it down by category: gifts, wrapping, decorations, food, and any travel costs. Spreading the cost over a few months rather than cramming it into December helps take the financial sting out of Christmas.

3. Take Advantage of Pre-Christmas Sales

Autumn brings a flurry of early deals: look out for:

Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales (late November)

Singles’ Day (11 November – especially popular for online deals)

Mid-season clearance sales at high street retailers

Discount codes from loyalty schemes or early access newsletters

Early birds often catch the best discounts—especially on popular toys and tech.

4. Go Personal with Gifts

Shopping early gives you the luxury of time to find or create thoughtful, personalised presents. Think:

Custom prints or illustrations

Monogrammed accessories

Handmade treats like jams, biscuits or DIY hampers

These often take longer to arrive or make, so the earlier you plan, the better the results.

5. Buy Wrapping and Cards Early Too

Don’t overlook the finishing touches. Stock up on:

Wrapping paper

Gift bags

Gift tags

Christmas cards and postage stamps

Many shops offer multipacks or early-bird discounts on stationery before the big rush starts. It also gives you time to send parcels to friends or family overseas.

6. Hide and Track Your Gifts

Start a “gift cupboard” or a box tucked out of sight. Label everything with the recipient’s name and keep a running list (either on paper or in a note-taking app) so you don’t double-buy or forget what you’ve already sorted.

Top tip: don’t forget where you’ve hidden things. It happens more than you think!

7. Don’t Forget Food Planning

If you’re hosting or contributing to festive meals, plan early. Many supermarkets open Christmas food pre-orders in autumn, and some independent producers offer early bird deals on:

Festive cheeses and charcuterie

Christmas puddings and cakes

Alcoholic gifts like gin, wine or liqueurs

Shopping early also helps you snag delivery slots before they disappear.

8. Enjoy the Season, Don’t Rush It

Most importantly, getting your Christmas shopping done early frees you up to enjoy December at a gentler pace—baking biscuits, watching festive films, sipping mulled wine, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Final Thoughts

Christmas doesn’t have to be a last-minute scramble. With a bit of planning and some early action, you can turn the festive period into a joyful, stress-free season. Whether you love a spreadsheet or just like ticking off a list with a cuppa in hand, the early bird approach is a gift to yourself.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Let us know your best early-bird tip in the comments!