How these family-run Christmas shops stay afloat and festive all year long
John Chehade and his wife initially started their store as a pastime. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
Christmas comes once a year, but for the stores that sell trees, ornaments and inflatable Santas, the festive season is a year-round affair.
Working in an industry with a seasonal peak, shop owners have to find unique ways to keep their stores open and profitable.
John Chehade from Sydney's south-west has run the Flexineon's Christmas Wonderland store with his wife Saloma Chehade since 1999.
Mr Chehade has been running the Christmas store in south-west Sydney for 26 years. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
It started out as a pastime at their original store in Greenacre, before it moved to Bankstown.
"We don't call it work, it's not a chore, it's actually a fun time for everyone, for the customers and for us,"Mr Chehade said.
"We were in Lebanon in the Middle East just before we started this. We saw a lot of decorations that they had that we didn't have in Australia and they had access to a lot more.
"So we thought Australia should have more, so we thought we'd come back and give it … a bit more liveliness that they have in the Middle East."
Mr Chehade's store has grown since he first opened it at Greenacre in 1999. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
About 20 years ago, the business expanded to stock flexible neon lights to help keep profits going year-round.
Christmas keeps him and his wife busy for most of the year and they have already started preparations for the 2026 season.
"In February, we start to order for the next year which takes about six months from ordering to receiving," he said.
Customers return to the store annually as well as during the off seasons.
"We get all walks of life," Mr Chehade said.
"We had the Indians, they came for Diwali, and the Muslims were coming for Ramadan, so everybody was coming in.
"Even though it's a Christmas shop … we concentrate on lighting and Christmas. Everyone needs lights," he said.
The store in Bankstown attracts customers during more than just the festive season. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
Mr Chehade said he was grateful his wife worked with him.
"When we go home, we're full of glitter at the end of the day, but it's good, it's good fun," Mr Chehade said.
"I love Christmas, if you can't tell!"
Celebrating across generations
Carly Stone runs the Christmas Barn at Bredbo in the New South Wales Snowy Monaro region, which has been in her family for four generations and counting.
Ms Stone took over a Christmas store at Bredbo from her mum. (ABC News: Floss Adams)
Ms Stone took over the store from her mum Leanne De Smet two years ago, who said she was "very proud" to see the store stay family-run.
"I wanted my legacy to go on and on, I mean I'd taken over from my parents so it was only fair that [Carly] should have to take over from me,"Ms De Smet said.
When she ran her own parents' store, it was dedicated to homewares, with a Christmas section opening seasonally.
But in 2004, Ms De Smet changed the business's direction.
"It became so popular that we ended up closing down the gift and homewares and just concentrated on Christmas," she said.
Since then, Christmas Barn has brought visitors to the regional town from "all across Australia", with constantly changing stock to encourage returning customers.
Ms De Smet (left), Ms Stone (centre) and her daughter Belle Stone (right) have kept the Christmas Barn running with the rest of their family. (ABC News: Floss Adams)
To run a Christmas shop, there has to be a love for the season, but not necessarily tinsel.
Ms De Smet said the store was a "tinsel-free zone".
"Tinsel's passé now," she said.
The store operates eight months of the year, with the remaining four months focused on preparation with the doors closed.
"We do work 12 months of the year … I don't think people realise the amount of work that goes into displays, the unpacking of the stock, the merchandising,"Ms Stone said.
Mr Chehade says he faces tough competition with online retailers. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
Competing with online retailers
Mr Chehade said there was "big-time competition" with online retailers, but his customers preferred to see and feel a product before making a purchase.
"[Customers] know that what they order sometimes online is not what they actually get," he said.
"Competition online is getting tougher. We just have to get smarter."
Ms Stone says customers come to the store to be "immersed" in Christmas. (ABC News: Floss Adams)
Ms Stone said Christmas stores attract customers who also want to be "immersed" in the festive holiday.
This is one reason why so much effort is put into how these stores look.
"Everywhere you look, there's something new and you can't get that online where it's just a click of a button,"she said.
Ms Davis brought her grandkids to the Christmas store for the first time. (ABC News: Floss Adams)
Sue Davis brought her two grandchildren Hazel and Kai to the Bredbo store for the first time.
"We've come from Gordon in Canberra, so about 40 minutes … just for this," Ms Davis said.
Kai gravitated to the candy canes and Hazel was mesmerised by the snow globes.
Ms Davis said she hoped to make the visit to the Christmas Barn an annual tradition.
Ms Cox enjoys shopping for the festive season year-round. (ABC News: Nandini Dhir)
In Bankstown, Chris Cox has been a regular Christmas Wonderland customer for about two decades.
On previous visits, she brought her children and grandchildren along too, even outside the festive season.
"I keep popping in,"Ms Cox said.
She said shopping during the off seasons means there is less rush.
"You can really take your time… and I could spend hours here just browsing," she said.