Think it’s too early for Christmas? Your clients might disagree…

Christmas might still feel a little way off, but your clients could be starting their festive shopping sooner than you think.

We know what you’re thinking…

Christmas? Already?! 🎄

When Christmas still feels a long way off, getting festive stock into the salon might not be at the top of your to-do list.

We get it. We’re not suggesting you get the tree up and put Mariah Carey on repeat just yet. 😂

But at our recent Wonderful Brands sales meeting, we put the team to the test with a Christmas shopping quiz – and some of the answers surprised us too.

Because while it might feel early to start thinking about Christmas retail, the way people actually shop tells a slightly different story.

So, how well do you really know your Christmas shoppers? 👀

Let’s put your knowledge to the test…

1. What percentage of people spend more than £100 on their partner’s Christmas presents?
Have a guess…

THE ANSWER: 50% 🎁

Half of people spend more than £100 on their partner’s Christmas presents.

And while we’re not saying every client who walks through your door is looking to drop £100 on a gift, it does show there’s an appetite for more than just stocking fillers at Christmas.

Think gift sets, bundles and those slightly more special presents they’d be excited to find under the tree.

2. What is traditionally the busiest Christmas shopping day?

THE ANSWER: Super Saturday

The final Saturday before Christmas.

There’s always going to be a last-minute crowd, which is another reason salon gifting can work so well.

They’re already through your door, they need a present and you’ve got something lovely sitting right in front of them.

One more gift ticked off the list. ✔️

3. What percentage of people have started their Christmas shopping by the end of October?

THE ANSWER: 24%

That’s almost 1 in 4 people shopping for Christmas before November even begins.

And this is where “too early” starts to look a little different.

Having your festive retail ready doesn’t mean your salon needs to look like Christmas straight away.

It simply means having gifting there when your clients are ready to buy it.

4. What percentage have started by the end of November?

THE ANSWER: 67%

More than 2 in 3 people have started their Christmas shopping by the end of November.

By having your gifting sorted ahead of time, your stock is there, your team knows what’s available and you’re ready as more of your clients switch into Christmas shopping mode.

5. What percentage of Christmas shoppers buy beauty and wellness gifts?

THE ANSWER: Around 52% ✨

Now this is where it gets interesting for salons.

Beauty and wellness are already popular gifting categories, but salons have something other retailers don’t necessarily have:

Your clients already trust your recommendations.

They know the products you use. They ask you what their hair needs. They might already have products they love themselves.

That makes conversations like…

“My sister would love this.”

“Mum uses this already!”

“That’s another present sorted.”

…a pretty natural extension of their salon visit.

6. How many people leave some of their Christmas shopping until the final week?

THE ANSWER: Around 1 in 5 – 20%

There’s always one. 😂

While plenty of people start early, around one in five still have shopping left to do in the final week.

Clear displays, easy gifting options and a team who can quickly recommend the right present can make your salon a very handy place to be for those last-minute shoppers.

7. How much does the average UK adult spend on Christmas gifts overall?

THE ANSWER: Approximately £514

That was the predicted average gift spend per person for Christmas 2025.

That’s a significant amount of Christmas spending happening each year – and beauty and wellness are already part of it.

The opportunity for salons is making sure your clients know they can Christmas shop with you too.

So… is it really too early for Christmas?
Maybe it feels early.

But your clients’ shopping habits might say otherwise.

Some will start early. Some will wait until November. And some will inevitably be rushing around during the final week looking for anything they can wrap. 😂

The point isn’t to go full Christmas as early as possible.

It’s about being ready when your clients are.

Having your HOLIDAY stock in salon gives you time to introduce it to your team, start talking about gifting naturally and gradually build your festive retail presence as Christmas gets closer.

Because your clients are going to be Christmas shopping anyway.

Why shouldn’t some of it happen in your salon? 🎁