On a recent shopping trip to my local city centre, I visited the local Argos store. It is a big one. Gone are the days when you looked for your purchase in a catalogue, filled out a small form and took it to the counter, and waited for your number to be called. Today, the shop has terminals. You place an electronic order and then go to the counter.
But the shop was almost deserted. I remember a time when it was bustling.
I also noticed something else as I entered the shop. Right ahead of me was a Christmas tree. Not with full trimmings, tinsel, glitter, and baubles on it, but it was still a Christmas tree.
In the middle of October.
The 1960s/70s Christmas Shopping Experience
Christmas was perhaps when the high street of the 1960s and 70s came alive. Like today, shops stayed open later, their windows transformed into displays designed to tempt you inside. But staying open late was rare for shops back then. There was no 24/7 shopping, and on Sundays, the city centre was deserted. Most shops were shut.
