Christmas might still feel a little way off in October, but behind the scenes at South Devon Chilli Farm, preparations for the festive season have been going on for months!
Every year, we take our chillies, sauces, jams, chutneys, chocolate and gifts to Christmas markets across the country. It's a brilliant opportunity to meet new customers, catch up with familiar faces and share our products with people looking for something a little different for Christmas.
This year, we're returning to Exeter and Bath Christmas Markets, alongside two exciting new locations: Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth.
But while we're busy getting ready for Christmas, life at the farm carries on as usual. Our shop and online orders still need looking after, production continues and there's plenty happening here in South Devon. Preparing for four Christmas markets on top of everything else takes a huge amount of planning, teamwork and organisation.
So, what actually happens behind the scenes before the first Christmas market opens?
Four markets, months of preparation
We start thinking about Christmas months before the festive season arrives. There's stock to make, stands to build, deliveries to organise, rotas to plan and accommodation to arrange.
And because we often attend different markets from one year to the next, every season brings its own challenges. We need to understand the requirements of each location, plan our stands accordingly and make sure everything is ready for opening day.
This year, we're looking forward to returning to two familiar favourites while taking South Devon Chilli Farm to Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth for the first time. Four markets, four locations and plenty to organise!
Our Christmas markets this year
Exeter Christmas Market | 13 November – 13 December
We're delighted to be returning to Exeter. It's a great opportunity to meet local customers and help people find something a little different for their Christmas shopping.
Blenheim Palace Christmas Market | 12 November – 20 December
A new location for us this year! We'll be bringing our range of chilli sauces, preserves, chocolate and gifts to the impressive surroundings of Blenheim Palace.
Bath Christmas Market | 26 November – 13 December
We're heading back to Bath, where the festive atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to do a spot of Christmas shopping.
Chatsworth Christmas Market | 26 November – 13 December
Another new adventure for us this year. We're looking forward to taking our products to Chatsworth and introducing South Devon Chilli Farm to even more Christmas shoppers.
With different opening and closing dates across all four markets, careful planning is essential to make sure each stall has the right stock and the right people in place throughout the season.
