Lt-Governor Sir Richard Cripwell officially opened the Cornet Street store and treated himself to a bag of sweets, while museum shop staff were busy serving customers looking to pick up the first of their Christmas shopping.
Cornet Street shop manager Caro Drake said her Victorian era shop had a historic feel to it, with more traditional gifts available to customers.
These included classic sweets such as jelly babies, bon bons and liquorice.
‘It’s fun to put everything together but it does take a long time, a few months.’
A popular choice of gift this year, she said, was likely to be a poster featuring information on Guernsey’s tides, moon phases, and solstices.
‘They’ve even got the ormering tide dates on there.’
Cards, decorations, knitted items, tins and coasters make up much of the other stock on offer.
‘I’m hopeful for a busy period, we have lots of loyal customers who return every year and I think the shop is always high on people’s lists to go to for gift ideas,’ Mrs Drake said.
Museum shop manager Ann Segers said the decoration of the premises had taken weeks, with stock orders made as early as June.
The shop is laden with festive gifts, including a huge range of chocolate and sweets, jams, wooden children’s toys, books, soaps, tea towels and stained glassware.
Customers can also sample free mulled wine every Friday.
‘We’ve used every space we have available to us, but we’re expecting things to sell quickly,’ Mrs Segers said.
A Christmas market in the museum’s courtyard will be held on Monday 8 December between 5pm and 8pm.
The shop at the Folk & Costume Museum is open between 10am and 4.30pm Tuesday-Sunday, while the Cornet Street shop is open from 11am-5pm Monday to Saturday. Both shops close on Saturday 20 December.
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