Christmas came early as Selfridges launched its Christmas shop on Monday.

The central London department store has transformed 3,000 square feet of its fourth floor into a winter wonderland filled with festive decorations. Even Father Christmas was present, to welcome shoppers through the doors 143 shopping days before the big day.

Geraldine James, Selfridges’ Christmas home and decorations buyer, said: “Despite the summer weather, we’re in full festive mode here at Selfridges. We’ve been working on this year’s Christmas shop since Christmas last year.

“We have so many customers visiting from all over the world and eager to snap up festive souvenirs on their summer holidays, which they can’t buy at home. So, we have to make sure we’re ready to showcase Christmas decorations.”

The shop’s first customers, Holly and Ken Martin, from Pennsylvania in the US, bought a Christmas 2015 bauble to mark their UK holiday.

Each of the thousands of Selfridges glass baubles have been designed exclusively for the store and were individually mouth-blown by staff at a supplier in Hungary.

The second phase of the shop’s opening will be in autumn, when the floor space devoted to all things festive will be more than doubled in size.

Open fully, the store will include more than 60,000 baubles, over 120 cracker options, and more than 1,250 different cards and wrapping-paper designs.

But for now, it is all hands on deck – especially for the man in charge. When asked whether he should be taking it easy in August, Father Christmas said: “Relaxing? Oh I’m afraid not.

“Christmas is all year round – I do take a little break in January but now is build up time, getting ready for the big day.”

Via The Guardian