London stores prepare for festive season

13/09/2006

London retailers Selfridges and Harrods have opened up their Christmas departments with over three months to go until Christmas Day.

Selfridges, which is situated in the capital's Oxford Street, has set up its Christmas Grotto, while Mohammed Al-Fayed's Harrods store has recently opened its Christmas World.

The House of Fraser has also indicated that Christmas is a topic that is discussed within the store throughout the year and has planned its festive decorations for the forthcoming festive period.

In all of the stores, items associated with Christmas parties, such as hats, balloons and Christmas crackers can be found.

House of Fraser's creative design controller, Helen Curtis, told the Scotsman: "My team and I go to New York to check out the visual merchandising as the retailers are forward thinking there.

"So we get inspiration, go back to the buyers and tell them what trends are coming through."

"And in January and February we're putting together ideas and putting together mock windows," she added.