Christmas is the most wonderful time of year. While for many people, the season of snowflakes, Santa and tinsel can only begin once Bonfire Night is well away, for a shop in Bridgend, it's never too early to start celebrating the festive holiday.
Seasons Garden and Christmas Outlet is preparing to open its seasonally decorated doors at 10am on Saturday, October 1 and will remain open for seven days a week until Christmas Eve.
The family business, which has been running for decades on the Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, attracts thousands of visitors to its store each year but started out selling mostly garden and household furniture before it turned its hand to festive decoration. Now in its 23rd year, the Powell Family's shop's decor is sure to transport you to the likes of the North Pole and Winter Wonderland in an instant.
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While its doorway is unassuming, through its glass doors, a dazzling interior can be seen and is a sight to behold; lifesized snow people and toys, snow-covered objects, giant snowglobes and much, much more.
Stocking "thousands and thousands" of Christmas decorations, the team behind the shop has been working hard all week to get the shop ready for the grand re-opening.
From trees to baubles and candy canes to angels and fairies, Seasons Christmas Outlet has got it all - and this year, it hopes to be bigger and better than ever before.
And being "Christmas mad", it's no wonder the team can't wait to welcome customers once again after last year's restrictions stopped many from paying them a visit - although that's not to say they weren't still buzzing around up until the big day.
Justin Powell, who runs the shop with his brother Mark and father Haydn, tells us: "It's looking really good again this year, so we're hoping that'll reflect with the customers then. But you never know what to expect." Justin reflects: "The last few years with Covid have been different but very busy with a lot of customers just wanting to go all out because they were stuck in the house.
"This year, we're hoping to see a lot of customers who couldn't come out the last few years because they might have been shielding, etc, so we're hoping they're fine to come and shop in the store. We'll hopefully see some old familiar faces and also some new faces.
"We're hoping Christmas is back on for everyone this year!"
He adds: "Christmas, despite the situation at the moment, is the event everyone looks forward to in the calendar. Everyone up and down the country always looks forward to Christmas. So it's an exciting time."
And although him and his team celebrate the sparkling season for several more months of the year than most, Justin tells us that having this shop adds to the magic of Christmas - a holiday the Powell family has had a love for across many generations.
"We're a big family run businesses with lots of staff - we're all Christmas mad!"
Speaking of what customers can expect to see in the shop this year, Justin says: "We're going big again this year on a candy cane theme. It's been running for the last couple of years, but the demand has been so high we've decided to expand the range even further.
"Gonks is, again, a product that has been around for a while, but it's improving year on year in popularity, so we're hoping that's gonna be a hit as well. There are lots of new products, lots of things to excite people. Just looking forward now to just opening and just get on with the show."
But one thing Justin is excited to see return is Santa's Grotto, complete with a personalised experience for the kids. Children will be able to meet Santa himself, get a picture and receive a personalised bauble,
"Because of the pandemic, we haven't been able to open a grotto," says Justin of previous years. "But this year, we are looking forward opening that this year. It's very unique. It's always very popular every year."
The Grotto will be available to book online in late October. With even more lighting colours than last year, fairytale themed items - blush pink and white decor, Justin explains - such as angels and fairies, lifesize nutcrackers, light-up snowmen, stars and bells, indoor and outdoor decorations, and candy cane galore being stocked at Seasons Garden and Christmas Outlet, it seems Christmas is well and truly on the way.
Seasons Garden and Christmas Outlet will open Saturday, October 1 and will run until Saturday, December 24. It will be open seven days a week between 10am and 5pm. The store can be found at: Seasons Christmas Outlet, Unit 9/10, Parc-y-bont, Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF32 9SZ
For more information, visit the website.
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