On the Sixth Day of Christmas My True Love Sent to Me, Six Geese A-Laying...

"How many more days Mum?" "Only Six More!" "SIX More?!" If only time went so slowly for adults in the final pre-Christmas week.

But Christmas Holidays are here, the Christmas Tree looks beautiful and Imi is enjoying wrapping the presents. We're hoping we will hear Rudolph's bells again and that Santa will enjoy his glass of wine and remember to give the Reindeer all their carrots.

David and I had our first and earliest ever Buying Appointment for Winter 12 today for Canada Goose Jackets. To add to our collection next year we have bought some great new styles. A lovely Mens Gilet and Chilliwack Bomber Jacket will join our mens Canada Goose Expedition Parka and Chateau Parka. For Women we are adding the quilted Solaris and shorter Montebello jackets to our popular Canada Goose Kensington and Trillium Parka styles.

We are looking forward to a busy final week, then quality Family Time and that First glass of Champagne Christmas Morning. .....Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree......

TOY TO FLY?

Can it really be only two weeks to Christmas?

Well the magic has begun for Imogen in the Turner house. As soon as we come downstairs in the morning the Advent Calendar is opened and a chocolate lined up beside the cereal bowl. The Advent Candle is lit and the Christmas post excitedly opened and displayed. Two weeks to go still seems a very long time for an eight year old.

Luckily for me, in the busy build up, I have the luxury of Christmas shopping from the Shop. Its Superdry & Rampant Sporting for the teenagers: lounge pants, Tee shirts, Polos, Hats, Wallets, earmuffs. ..

Another Xmas favourite is ToyWatch. The new ToyWatch Mesh & Black ToyWatch Toy to Fly are great new additions. Plus the Sparkly Toy Watch Total Stones in Grey Pink & Purple are ideal as Dressing Up Watches for a touch of festive bling. (Subtle Hint David!)

NAPAPIJRI - NORDIC NOSTALGIA

Nordic style knitwear has made a spectacular comeback this year after years in fashion wilderness.

Our Chunky Retro Napapijri Knitwear evokes memories of early ski trips, with lovely bold Nordic patterns in luxury wool mixes. Mix these snowflake designs with a pair of jeans and a chunky Sorel Joan of Artic Boot for a great on trend look.

We also have a brilliant range of Nordic inspired accessories ideal as stocking fillers. From Trapper Style Barts Hats, and Slouchy Barts Slipper Socks, to Fleece Hunter Welly Liners, to Superdry Slipper Socks & Chunky Double Zip Superdry knitwear.

Yes, its Nordic Nostalgia time: Ski Chalets, Log Fires, Gluvine, Reindeer........

Mama Mia ! COLMAR SKI WEAR HAS ARRIVED!

We have an Exclusive! Turners Marlow is the only UK Stockist of Colmar Womens Original Down Jackets & Colmar Womens Ski Wear.

We are so excited about this range because there has been very little new ski product coming through over the last few years and Colmar certainly fills the gap and how! It is sporty and glamorous, luxurious and technical. I have never seen a 20,000 mm waterproof jacket look this good.

Colmar is a heritage Italian Ski Wear Brand and bizarely is sponsoring the British Ski team this year. When we were at the Munich Ski Show in February, we were looking out for something different. The Colmar stand was packed with European Buyers and had a real buzz about it. It was just what we had been looking for.

We are hoping to get some product placement for the range and Lynda is working on this at the moment. Any tips would be most welcome!

Yes, Colmar, one to watch!

Canada Goose & The Wonderful Frozen Planet

David, Imogen & I are watching The BBC’s Frozen Planet with awe and delight. We find the Penguins so amusing and the photography amazing!

An added bonus for our family was to spot Sir David Attenborough wearing one of our Canada Goose Expedition Parker jackets. In fact Canada Goose seems to be the brand of choice for most of the team.

Canada Goose has a great heritage, manufacturing outerwear in Canada for over 50 years. It is worn in the South Pole research facilities and the Canadian High Arctic as well as the city streets of New York, Tokyo and London. Its reputation for quality, functionality and style is second to none.

Sadly, Fakes in the recession are becoming more and more of a problem, with online sites offering ridiculously low prices. However, if you look at these online discount sites carefully, it is obvious that the product is fake and at these market stall prices the product will be non-functional.

Often, the language has subtle translation issues,returns are offered but there is no returns address on site. I have even seen a site called e-canadagoose.com stating it can only process one payment a day. This would certainly ring alarm bells in my head!

Thankfully, if you go to www.Canada-Goose.com/Counterfeiting at the bottom of a page there is a long list of Counterfeit Website sellers. You will also see Turners Marlow listed as an Authorised Canada Goose UK Stockist.

Did you see the Penguin pinching stones from a fellow Penguin for his nest? Hilarious!

NEW BRAND ON BOARD - YUMMY YUMI

We are very excited about stocking the fast fashion label Yumi. Our favourite collection is the vintage range with its soft lacey fabrics and muted colour palette.

Samples came into the shop today and we have had great feedback from our customers. We are hoping to receive our collection on Saturday in time for our Marlow Regatta window.

We have also achieved a page one stockist listing with FitFlop. This should be great for our FitFlop online business. My favourite is FitFlop Frou our best seller this week.

THE BEST EASTER EVER!

We have had a wonderful Easter Break. David took a week's holiday and the three of us enjoyed just hanging out together and relaxing in the beautiful weather. Coffees in the garden surrounded by the scent of lilac, bike rides at Dorney Lake, walking in the Bluebell woods at Christmas Common,hooking up with friends and family and a trip to the London Aquarium.

Imi has been an absolute joy and after the long winter term thoroughly enjoyed her time off school. We managed to catch up with cousins and school friends and CACH friends. What a difference the sunshine makes!

Business has picked up too, with people coming into Marlow for al fresco shopping. Sales of FitFlops are very good. I am coveting the new Floretta Rosy Posy design. They have a back strap for extra support and look so pretty.

LAST BUYING APPOINTMENT - ABOUT TIME!

We have finally finished our last buying appointment. Fittingly our last appointment was with Toy Watch.

The lovely Owner of the UK Distribution Company has sadly had to retire due to ill health and we were keen to meet the new Toy Watch UK team. Mary and Tiho made as extremely welcome and we were happy to see that they are passionate about the brand that regularly tops the best selling watch list in Harrods and Selfridges.

We decided to try for the brand after noticing Hollywood celebrities including Urma Therman, Madonna, Sienna Miller, Lenny Kravitz were wearing them.

The Watch is the brainchild of Marco Mavilla, who legend has it, offered his idea of a high quality plastic Rolex Copy to Rolex itself, but they were not interested.

Little did they know that within a few years even Michelle Obama was to be seen wearing the Purple Neon Plasteramic Toy Watch.

Mary and Tiho showed us some great new styles and we have just had delivered the new Oversize XL Chronograph and Fluo ranges.

Time now for me to concentrate on updating our Website with our new deliveries.

OMmm Yoga with Beatrice

Every Wednesday evening I look forward to Hatha Yoga with Beatrice. I love the class. We practice a series of fluid sequences accompanied by beautiful background music. The classes are small and intimate and after the final relaxation accompanied by Beatrice's soothing French voice I feel completely relaxed (as well as much more bendy).
see Beatrice's website at http://www.yogawithbeatrice.com/

People often wonder what to wear for yoga or pilates practice. If you go for a bootleg pant make sure it has a tie at the hem. This will avoid the pant flapping around your knees during headstands. (Not the most elegant sight especially when legs need waxing!) Capri Pants in a soft stretchy fabric are the best. Tops should be fitted and long enough not to ride up during shoulder stands. ( Keep that flummy-tummy under wraps until yoga'd into shape.)

A couple of years ago I discovered Manukalife Yoga wear. Recently endorsed by Vogue and The Weekend Mail - The Times on Sunday says "Manuka bottoms are unbelievably soft, cling in all the right places and won't ride up mid shoulder stand." The fabrics are gorgeously soft, stretchy and comfortable. No more embarrassing Yoga episodes for me.

Manuka Yoga-wear from Manukalife at Turners Marlow.

The Ski Show in Munich

We recently visited the Ispo ski show in Munich. This is a good way to get an overview of the brands we buy. We can get a good idea of what we believe will be our best sellers plus there is always the excitement of finding a new brand.

It was a good trip and we have found a great ski brand called Colmar. The Brand is a heritage brand in Europe and we are really excited to say that we will be their First UK Account. The brand is both luxurious and sporty with flattering fits for the ladies and gorgeous fabrics.

We will need to hone our PR skills to make the most of this opportunity so fingers crossed this will be the Brand to Watch.