manchester

christmas

Tinsel out of favour with festive shoppers

Householders are abandoning tinsel in favour of more trendy festive decorations, a retailer has said.

Sales at Woolworths have plummeted by more than 75% over the last five years.

Customers are turning to more modern festive alternatives such as pearl strings and bead chains, the high street chain said.

Tinsel has fallen out of favour to such an extent that the retailer has cut back its range.

It expects sales to be worth around £250,000 this year compared to £1.1 million in 2001.

A Woolworths spokesman said customers were still decking out their Christmas trees and homes for the festive season.

"This is not a reflection on general Christmas sales - people are not ditching Christmas. It is just that tinsel isn't selling any more," he said.

Sales of fashionable alternatives such as decorative lights, pearl strings, bead chains and garlands are "soaring", according to Woolworths.

Michelle Ogundehin, editor of Elle Decoration magazine, said tinsel was no longer "in".

She said: "Sleeker, classier and trendier alternatives are now commonly available at rock-bottom prices on the high street and shoppers are quite rightly using their money wisely to create a more stylish and individual look for themselves. Tinsel no longer fits into that look."

Tinsel was introduced to Britain in the late 1800s, Woolworths said.

Are you still a fan of tinsel or is it past its sell-by date? Have your say