Deck the stalls!

Whether its’s bratwurst in Nuremberg or stollen in Southampton, you can’t beat a Christmas market!

I love Christmas markets. Maybe it’s the glühwein. Maybe it’s the bratwurst. Or perhaps it’s simply the fact they signal the start of Christmas. As I write, Scott is enjoying himself at another alpine
market. It’s one of his favourite pastimes, though I suspect that’s largely because it offers a rare chance for him and his wife to escape the kids for a day! In fact, Scott is our resident Christmas market

connoisseur. Over the years he’s visited markets across Germany, Holland and Austria. Last year he was in Edinburgh. This year? Southampton. Will it live up to its European counterparts? Hmm. I’m not so sure..! Don’t get me wrong, I love Southampton. But European Christmas markets are in a league of their own. It’s not just the postcard-perfect scenery that sets them apart. There’s also a certain magic and community spirit that’s harder to find in the damp corners of a British city centre.

Still, Scott isn’t letting geography – or a hurricane force storm – dampen his festive spirits. Judging by the photo he just sent – a beer stein so enormous it requires both hands to wield – he’s making the most of his Southampton market experience! As for my own festive preparations, I’m irritatingly organised. So organised, in fact, that I bought my Goddaughter’s and Godson’s LEGO® advent calendar last December and stored them for a whole year (well, they were going at half price and we all know I love a bargain!) Now all that’s left to do is the wrapping…

Then again, perhaps I should outsource that job to Scott’s house. His wife’s got the system nailed. He takes the kids out, she opens the prosecco and the wrapping gets done in record time (you can always tell which presents she wrapped first though!) Of course, not everything about this season is merry and bright… Earlier this month, thieves stole a van bound for York’s Christmas market. Unbeknown to them, the van contained £25,000 worth of pies baked by Michelinstarred chef Tommy Banks. Although the vehicle was later recovered, sadly the pies perished. Maybe it was the same criminal masterminds who stole twenty-two tonnes of cheese just weeks earlier…

Between the two heists, the thieves must surely have enough supplies to set up their own black-market Christmas extravaganza next year… In all seriousness, it’s a bitter blow for the small businesses involved. Theft spikes in the run-up to Christmas as stores grow busier and household budgets get tighter. Add in the usual pressures of the Golden Quarter and cost increases, and the burden on retailers is heavier than Santa’s sleigh. I get it. Many of us at Advantage One come from a retail background, so we understand the unique challenges of the festive season. The long hours. The rise in shoplifting. Frazzled customers.

The surge in abuse. But we also know what it takes to keep stores and their teams safe. So if you’d like some help with that, do reach out. Speaking of safety, I did see some more positive news this week. Apparently police have arrested 93 members of 28 organised crime gangs.

Collectively the criminals were responsible for more than £4 Million worth of thefts. It’s the first time officers have mapped the gangs that are targeting shops and supermarkets nationwide. You could consider it an early Christmas present for retailers across the country! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got wrapping to wrestle with and bratwurst with my name on it…