It might just be the team at Christmas.co.uk but the countdown to Christmas seems to start earlier every year, and with it, the hunt for the perfect advent calendars.
With a dizzying array of options available, researching and buying online is a great way to find that ideal countdown to the big day.
However, the humble advent calendar has evolved from a simple chocolate countdown to a cultural phenomenon.
It’s no longer confined to the childhood realm; these festive calendars now cater to a diverse range of tastes and interests.
The UK is widely recognised as a leader in advent calendar innovation and while the likes of traditional chocolate calendars abound, Brits are increasingly looking for unique and creative alternatives.
UK firsts in advent calendar innovation
Some UK firsts in advent calendar innovation include electronic advent calendars
offering daily surprises, such as building electronic gadgets or playing mini-games.
There are also subscription-based advent calendars, where customers receive a new product or experience every day leading up to Christmas. These are gaining popularity because they offer flexibility and cater to a range of interests.
Advent calendar choices also include experiential advent calendars, such as learning a new skill, trying new recipes, or exploring attractions.
However, it’s the rise in luxury advent calendars, featuring high-end products from renowned brands, that make the British market stand out.
There’s a plethora of calendars for beauty, fashion, or gourmet food available.
And once you’ve decided which calendar choice is for you, we have articles looking in detail at the calendars that are available, such as:
- Chocolate: Not just for children! Chocolate advent calendars include luxury items for adults and unusual treats such as chocolate truffles from top-end retailers
- Alcohol: Great choice from beers, wines and gin for those who love a tipple
- Beauty: A huge range of beauty offerings that are designed to impress from the likes of John Lewis and Charlotte Tilbury
- Children’s: From toys to specific childhood loves such as Harry Potter, books and popular characters such as Bluey
- Wellness: Enjoy an advent calendar that focuses on promoting health and well-being with a daily surprise related to self-care, relaxation or personal growth.
- Luxury: While beauty advent calendars impress, how about calendars with jewellery and perfumes?
The magic of online Advent calendar shopping
When searching for Advent calendars from the comfort of your home (or workplace!), you can explore countless options, compare prices and read customer reviews.
And while most of us will buy children and loved ones an advent calendar, there will undoubtedly be those among us who will trat themselves to a calendar to enjoy the festive countdown!
To be fair, we think this is a great opportunity to try new things from men’s beauty products to gourmet food and even international beers. Even ‘posh’ chocolates are worth indulging in!
The Christmas.co.uk team search for the best calendars every year to make that search so much easier.
Plus, many retailers offer early bird discounts and pre-orders, ensuring you secure the most coveted calendars.
Buying your Advent calendar early is one potential festive treat that really should be encouraged to avoid disappointment.
To underline why you need to invest in your chosen advent calendar early, several advent calendars sold out early in 2023.
This was particularly true for luxury beauty and gourmet food calendars. Popular brands like Space NK (which had to open its 2024 waiting list in 2023!), Harrods and Fortnum & Mason saw high demand for their limited-edition offerings.
The John Lewis beauty calendar is so popular, for example, that the retailer sets up a registration page every year, so shoppers don’t miss out!
The popularity of these calendars can be attributed to factors such as exclusive product and value – the chance to enjoy big discounts on luxury products.
It looks like retailers like John Lewis and Harvey Nichols adding prizes and gift cards to their calendars also helps them sell.
The ability to search quickly online, for example at Amazon, also opens up a world of unique and specialised Advent calendars.
Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast, a wine lover, or a toy collector, there’s an Advent calendar tailored to your passions.
Tips for Advent calendar research success
Advent calendars have become more than just a countdown; they’ve evolved into a shared experience.
Whether it’s a family tradition, a solo indulgence, or a thoughtful gift, these calendars evoke a sense of anticipation and joy.
The unboxing of daily surprises creates a moment of excitement – replicated every day until the Big Day!
With so many choices, finding the perfect Advent calendar can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to guide your search:
- Start early: Popular calendars sell out fast, so begin your search as soon as possible
- Set a budget: Determine how much you’re willing to spend before you start browsing
- Consider themes: From beauty and food to toys and puzzles, there’s a theme for everyone
- Read reviews: Customer feedback can provide valuable insights into product quality.
Don’t forget too that when buying an Advent calendar online to always use a secure checkout to protect your personal information with secure payment methods.
Don’t forget too that the growing popularity of Advent calendars means scammers and fake sites will be out in force – always buy from an established website/brand and be very cautious of ‘too good to be true’ deals from unscrupulous websites which may only be there to collect their payment information.
You will also need to be wary of websites which might feature a brand name but are unlikely to be affiliated to the brand.
Top retailers for Advent calendars
Several online retailers have established themselves as go-to destinations for Advent calendar shoppers.
They include Amazon, LookFantastic and John Lewis – these sites are popular choices offering a wide range of options.
However, we’d recommend not overlooking speciality retailers catering to specific interests, such as beer and whisky retailers along with luxury food brands, as they often have exclusive offerings. Some calendars are being produced by retailers who take pride in their curated offerings, especially luxury product calendars.
Finding your perfect Advent calendar
The ideal Advent calendar depends on your personal preferences and those of the lucky recipient.
Consider factors such as price, theme, contents and brand reputation when making your choice.
Sustainability and ethical sourcing are also increasingly important considerations for many shoppers.
Advent Calendar trends for 2024
It amazes us every year how some trends remain the same while others come along and take us by surprise.
For 2024, these are the Advent calendar trends to be aware of:
Beauty Advent calendars: Still reigning supreme
Luxury focus: Expect to see more high-end brands and exclusive products included in beauty advent calendars
Customisation: Brands are likely to offer more personalised options, allowing customers to choose their preferred products
- Sustainability: There will be a continued emphasis on eco-friendly packaging and sustainable ingredients
- Inclusivity: A wider range of skin tones and hair types will be represented in product selections.
It’s worth noting that beauty Advent calendars seem to be leading the charge again this year.
Brands like Fortnum & Mason and Liberty London have created impressive calendars along with promotional campaigns with promises of exclusive products and stunning packaging.
We would also recommend looking at the festive offerings from Lookfantastic, Cult Beauty and Anthropologie.
It’s also looking like wellness Advent calendars focusing on self-care, relaxation and holistic well-being will become very popular this year.
Plus, the ever-popular food and drink Advent calendars offering a daily taste of gourmet treats, cheeses, chocolates or alcoholic beverages will remain bestsellers.
There’s also a strong line-up of hobby and interest Advent calendars which cater to specific passions like books, puzzles, crafts and gardening.
The other Advent trends to expect in 2024
The Christmas.co.uk team is also predicting that along with more variations in the type of calendar, we will also see manufacturers delivering on what consumers want to see more of, such as:
- Experience Over Things: A shift towards offering more experiential and interactive surprises. For a more engaging and memorable way to countdown to Christmas. Experiential calendars range from offering daily challenges or activities, such as hiking, cooking or learning a new skill. Interactive Advents include DIY calendars to create crafts or decorations, along with puzzle calendars. Popular brands such as Birchbox and Notonthehighstreet are the places to find these calendars.
- Customisation: Personalised options will allow customers to create their own unique advent calendar experience. These include calendars to suit individual interests such as personalised photo advent calendars, tea or coffee calendars and craft offerings such as knitting or painting. Retailers include Moonpig, Amazon, John Lewis and Paperchase.
We’ve mentioned sustainability is a growing focus so expect to see eco-friendly and reusable options gaining popularity.
We also think that wellness-inspired calendars, featuring mindfulness products or healthy treats, will be big this year.
Brands are constantly innovating to capture consumers’ attention. From limited edition collaborations to personalised calendars, the creativity knows no bounds.
As the countdown to Christmas begins, the advent calendar market will undoubtedly continue to evolve, offering something for everyone.
Finding the best Advent Calendars in 2024
We think it’s great to go festive shopping and visit outlets to find your bargains and must-haves, but we also think shopping online is to be highly recommended.
You’ll be able to search quickly and easily for the Advent calendar you want, and have it delivered to your home.
Don’t forget to start your search early and follow our tips to find the perfect countdown to Christmas.
