Aug 06, 2024

Harvest Season @ Department 56

My family and I were on vacation over the July 4th holiday this year, and while out shopping, it stunned me to see so much Halloween already on store shelves! I recalled 25 years ago when I began designing rabbits sans baskets or eggs to have a Springtime appeal that lasted longer than the Easter buying season. I’d never have guessed how far seasonality would shift at retail, but I find the concept of Jack-o-lanterns next to star spangled top hats encouraging.

I’m a traditionalist in that I give holidays a chance. You will not see Christmas lights on my stoop or a tree in my living room until Thanksgiving dinner is complete, but that’s not to say I’m not excited thinking about what theme I’m going to go with or where I’m going to put things.

And I love the holidays! We host a lot of family and friends, and I love to elevate the themes of the season. There’s a certain kind of appreciation when your guests see you’ve gone the extra mile to make your space festive, so my décor almost becomes an extension of my gratitude. It’s thrilling to walk through the same space but see it transformed for the season with items both new and old, even if that transformation is Fall one day and Christmas the next.

Department 56 collectors get this. Décor can be as important to a memorable holiday as the menu. And as we get busier with every passing year, it makes sense that retail answers by bringing décor out earlier to ensure you have choices enough to design your space in time. Granted, we all have access to the endless aisles of Internet shopping, but there’s nothing like venturing into a local shop, admiring the displays they’ve put together for inspiration, and finding a unique treasure to add to your collection or gift as a gift.

It was that notion of gift ability that inspired “GATHER ‘ROUND FOR THANKSGIVING” that we debuted this year. We were looking for a starter piece that you could gift to a host at Thanksgiving, but what we ended up with is a piece that inspired one of the new series I alluded to in my previous blog. 2025 will see us debut our new “SNOW VILLAGE HARVEST” series, which will be the first Village ever dedicated specifically to Fall.

Andrew Nelson, our longtime packaging designer for Village and recently promoted Creative Director for Enesco (a promotion very well deserved!) designed the new logo and packaging for Snow Village Harvest. We’ll debut with a handful of items, but four Snow Village Halloween items from this year will be moved over to Snow Village Harvest packaging in future years. I am hopeful you will love these pieces no matter the packaging you end up finding them in:

Sketch of adult playing with children

I look forward to your feedback upon the launch of our new Snow Village Harvest. Without revealing too much, I can share those residents of the little gray house featured in “GATHER ‘ROUND FOR THANKSGIVING” may enjoy watching the post-dinner game at their neighbors’ place, and after stuffing all those scarecrows, Nana may enjoy a pint or three at the venue next door.

My goal in sharing this is not unlike getting you ready for what’s next by displaying pumpkins next to fireworks. It may seem a bit premature, but this holiday season – if only in one room of your home – I hope that you carve out space for Thanksgiving. Before breaking open the peppermint mocha, warm the pumpkin spice a bit longer. Before reds, golds, and greens, dress the table in rusts and russets. And on the sideboard nestled between the pumpkin pie and cranberry relish, make space for your Fall-themed Village. The nostalgia of it all will make conversation flow a tad easier, desserts taste a tad sweeter, and memories last a tad longer. And in the end, isn’t that what Village is all about anyway?

Until we gather again …

Tim Haney, VP of Product Development @ Enesco / Dept 56