FOR most of us Christmas starts in December but for Nick White festive fun occupies his mind from the start of September.
Nick is a veteran Christmas tree seller and owner of the Hockley Market Centre which has become renowned for its breathtaking decoration displays.
The centre is open all-year round but has the most success throughout the festive season and the hard work begins for Nick before the summer even ends.
Installed over the course of multiple months, a huge amount effort goes into preparing the displays, which attract families from across south Essex.
“We usually open up the Christmas area during the second week of October, but the work starts a long time before,” said Nick.
“It takes months. We start on the Tuesday after the August bank holiday and spend about seven weeks just building the unit to house the decorations.
“We then spend the rest of the time loading in the decorations – and that’s with seven or eight staff,” he added.
Every decoration on sale at Hockley Market Garden Centre is carefully chosen by Nick and his family, who are now experts at sourcing the best festive products.
Much of the work is done by Nick’s wife, who is described by her husband as “being one step ahead” of Christmas fashions.
Nick said: “My wife really does take the lead on choosing the Christmas items we get in,
“In the lead up to Christmas we’ll go to trade shows and exhibitions to see what’s new, and she’ll always know what is going to be popular that year.”
While decorations may be the most eye-catching part of Christmas at Hockley Market Garden Centre, a staple of the season is Christmas tree sales.
Nick has been selling Christmas trees for more than 40 years and says the ones he now sources are “high-grade only”.
“They come in fresh every day, sourced from Scotland and Denmark and are all very good quality,” said Nick.
“People don’t realise the amount of work that goes into producing all of the trees, even the little ones.
“They need constant clipping to make sure they get the perfect shape,” he added.
Throughout December, families visiting Hockley Market Garden Centre can also enjoy free meet-and-greets with Santa, who will be at the centre from 10.30am to 3.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
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