By George Anderson
Ask old St. Nick and he'll tell you it's never too early to start putting your Christmas shopping list together or even begin picking up an item or two for the holiday.
That's why the man with the most accumulated air miles on the planet took time off from his vacation under the sun somewhere along the six miles of beach in Blackpool, England to make an appearance in red-and-white striped Victorian-style swim trunks at Harrod's in London.
According to a report in The Independent, Father Christmas, as he is referred to in England, "arrived sans reindeer, accompanied instead by a seaside donkey called Dino." Apparently, Santa's reindeers prefer to holiday at home in the cooler climes of the North Pole.
Santa Claus' appearance at Harrod's in August has become a tradition for the retailer and its customers. The Independent likens it to another great English tradition, the change of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
The staff at Harrod's say SC's trip to the store in August to open its Christmas World department is perfect timing because many of the foreigners who go to London on holiday in August want to take home decorations from the retailer. This year, shoppers will have a customarily wide selection of items to choose from, including "a lime-green tree bauble (75p)" and a "shelf doll - a full-sized figure resembling a great lady from a Gainsborough portrait whose garments enclose a series of glass shelves - priced at £1,950."
Also for sale at Harrod's is Reindeer Barbie. The Independent describes the toy, which retails for £229, as "a typical Barbie doll, in a frilly scarlet dress with fluffy shoulder pads, long scarlet gloves and a parting to show a pair of very shapely legs. When you look at the head, however, it's a reindeer. It's the sort of thing Hunter S. Thompson saw on particularly heavy acid trips."
Moderator's Comment: What can other retailers learn from Harrod's? - George Anderson - Moderator