Christmas and Holiday Merchandise Sales Trends at Stores that Offer Year-Round Merry Making

By Sara Karnish

Christmas may be on December 25, but it’s celebrated the other 364 days at year-round Christmas stores. Their merchandise helps to set a festive mood any time of year. Shoppers can add to an existing collection of heirloom decorations or find something brand new to mark the season.

“The things we introduce new every year— they’re our best-sellers," said Mel Bilbo , owner of Kringles Christmas Shop in Branson, Mo. “Sometimes you introduce it and think, ‘it’s going to work’, and for some reason it doesn’t. The last two years—it amazes me that almost everything has been selling, and selling very well. I think one reason everything is selling well is because Branson is a tourist town, and there are a variety of people coming in. One thing which might not appeal to one person will appeal to someone else.”

Likewise, Diego Constante , owner of Feliz Navidad Sedona in Sedona, Ariz., said they do a brisk business thanks to Sedona’s strong tourist population. “any ornament with a southwest theme is a big seller—cacti, red rocks,” Constante said. “[Sedona] is a destination—it’s a very touristy town. People want a memory of their trip. In fact, in my advertising it says ‘southwest memories for your christmas tree.’ we don’t sell ornaments—we sell memories.”

Tammy Hollingshead , manager of Always Christmas in Hiawassee, Ga., said their current best-sellers are “confetti water globes, personalized ornaments, large, unique eye-catching items, and Christmas items with a good message.” She described confetti water globes as an item similar to a snow globe—“it’s battery operated, and it blows the confetti around inside. There is glitter inside and it catches the light. It looks like there is constant movement. It draws attention to whatever display it’s in.” Always Christmas is owned by Hollingshead’s 86-year-old father Ray Wine; it measures 4,000 square feet. Christmas is a time for tradition, and many shoppers come to year-round holiday stores to find items, like keepsake ornaments, to help start new traditions. “Keepsake ornaments are bigger than ever this year,” said Patty Hutchinson , owner of the Twelve Months of Christmas in Bedford, Ind. “I have sets of keepsake ornaments, like baby’s first Christmas, our first Christmas, and I’ve sold out of the wedding ones. I think they’re so popular because covid really made people think differently. People were at home for a long while, then we could go back out—they come in and see our store in a joyous setting. They want to remember christmas the way it used to be.” Along with the “first” ornaments, retailers say they are seeing more memorial and bereavement ornaments to honor loved

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