Three in four Britons agree September is too early for mince pies in shops
When is the right time for British shops to start selling Christmas items? Ipsos polled the Great British public!
New polling by Ipsos, taken September 6-9, examines when Britons believe that Christmas related items should begin to be sold in shops, and asks whether they have purchased anything yet in preparation for the holiday.
The overwhelming majority of Britons believe that September is too early for Christmas-related items to be sold. 83% believe it is too early for Christmas turkeys, 80% believe it is too early for Christmas puddings, and 79% each believe it is too early for Christmas jumpers and festive decorations. Three quarters believe it is too early for mulled wine (76%) and mince pies (75%). 64% believe it is too early for presents, but three in ten (30%) say it’s the right time to begin buying them.
Almost seven in ten (69%) have not yet purchased any Christmas-related items yet. However, 16% have made an early start on their preparations by purchasing presents.
Commenting on the findings, Eleanor Thornton Firkin, UK Head of Creative Excellence, Ipsos said:
This poll confirms what many Britons are thinking - September is simply too early for Christmas treats to be decking the supermarket halls! While retailers might be eager to rush into the festive spirit, it seems most people are happy to wait until closer to December to indulge in these seasonal delights. The Mince Pie is a national treasure, but it seems that we want to at least wait until the pumpkins have been carved before we see them in the shops!
Technical Note
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,100 adults aged 16-75 across Great Britain. Polling was conducted online between 16-20 August 2024. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.
