An Instrument for All Seasons

It might feel a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but here at Music Bits Company, the Christmas shopping has already begun. We’ve seen a massive increase in sales of starter instruments bought as gifts, with customers getting ready to put a little music under the tree.

And while Christmas shopping in October might seem unusually organised, when it comes to musical instruments, buying early makes a lot of sense.

Why Christmas stock arrives so early

For an independent music shop like ours, preparing for Christmas starts long before the decorations go up. We have to predict which instruments customers will want, how many we’re likely to sell and what we’ll need to keep in stock throughout the festive season. Then we place our orders well in advance.

That stock generally starts arriving in early October. It may look early from the outside, but it gives us time to prepare for the busiest gift-buying weeks of the year.

The tricky part is replacing it once it sells.

Unlike topping up an everyday shopping basket, ordering another batch of a popular instrument isn’t always straightforward. Once our Christmas allocation has gone, we may not be able to get more until the new year.

Our suppliers are planning ahead too

Our suppliers face much the same challenge, just on a bigger scale. They have to predict what music shops across the country will need and arrange their stock well ahead of Christmas.

Inevitably, some models prove more popular than expected. As shops sell through their stock and try to reorder, the suppliers’ remaining instruments can disappear quickly too.

So even if we know exactly which instrument a customer wants, and would love to order another one, there may simply be none available in time for Christmas.

Found the right instrument? Don’t leave it to chance

The moral of the story is simple: if you see an instrument you want now, don’t assume it will still be available at the last minute.

That’s particularly important if you have your heart set on a specific model, colour or size. There may be alternatives later, but they won’t necessarily be the instrument you had in mind.

We don’t say this to rush anyone into buying something unsuitable. Choosing a first instrument deserves a little thought, and we’re always happy to help you find something that suits the person who’ll be playing it. But once you’ve found the right one, buying early takes the uncertainty out of the equation.

If we sell out of a particular model, the chances are we won’t be able to replace it until the new year. That’s rather late for something intended to be waiting under the Christmas tree!

A gift for Christmas, music for every season

A starter instrument can be much more than a present to unwrap on Christmas morning. It can be the beginning of a new hobby, a rediscovered interest or a lifelong love of playing music.

The excitement might start at Christmas, but the enjoyment can carry on through every season. First chords in winter, growing confidence in spring, favourite songs over summer and perhaps even a performance for the family by next Christmas.

You don’t have to predict where that musical journey will lead. You just need to give it a good place to begin.

Looking for a musical gift? Explore our acoustic guitars, electric guitars, ukuleles and keyboards for inspiration, and ask us for help choosing an instrument that suits the person who will be playing it.

More Christmas gift ideas are on their way

We’ll be receiving our larger shipments of Christmas stock over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for gift ideas as the instruments arrive.

Whether you’re shopping for a young beginner, someone who has always wanted to learn or a loved one returning to music, we’ll be happy to help you choose.

Yes, thinking about Christmas this early can feel a little crazy. But a bit of planning now can save a lot of disappointment in December.

Come and see us at Music Bits Company, 17 High Street, Alford, Lincolnshire, or browse at www.musicbits.co.uk. If you’d like a chat about choosing an instrument, give us a call on 01507 838 448.

Christmas may still be a little way off, but the right instrument is a gift for all seasons.