These are also expensive times for Santa Claus. With a sleigh that runs with reindeer, he may start the fuel dance, but when shopping for gifts, the generous children’s friend also runs into rising prices.
What does that mean for the Christmas hampers this year? They may be a little less full here and there, but according to package sellers, everyone loves the Christmas spirit.
Tanja Snel enthusiastically walks around among the Christmas products of Kruger Gifts in Assen. Luxury kitchen appliances, slippers in the shape of a reindeer and tea light holders with stars on them. But also food such as Christmas cookies, bags of chips and stroopwafels.
They are completely different products, but they have one thing in common: they have all become slightly more expensive in the past year. “It starts here,” Snel begins as she folds a cardboard box to fill a package. “The raw material price of cardboard has gone up.”
According to the Christmas gift seller, everyone wants a package that is as beautiful and well-filled as possible, but it is sometimes shocked by how quickly they reach a certain amount. She tries to make buyers as aware as possible of how prices can rise.
“It’s not just the raw materials, but also the transport and energy. If you explain that, people are often inclined to say: ‘we consult with the person who goes over the budget’, and then they change it anyway.” said Snel.
Curious about what to expect in the Christmas package this year? Watch the video below: