The Joy of Christmas at Avoca - The Gloss Magazine

The Joy of Christmas at Avoca

Finding and celebrating daily rituals and little pleasures that keep us afloat …

Connectedness, joy, comfort, authenticity and Irishness – that’s what we feel when we think about Avoca, its stores, its beautiful, carefully selected things to buy, its extraordinary food and its wonderful people. We call it the #AvocaFeeling.

In this series, we have met some of the brilliant women who create, live and breathe the magic of Avoca, and some of Avoca’s firm friends and fans, who are legion all over Ireland – and the world! You can read previous entries here.

We also asked you, our reader, what makes you feel happy, connected and at peace with the world (particularly now, when the world feels tilted on its axis). Thank you for sharing what gives you that #AvocaFeeling. We loved hearing your stories. We’d still like to continue the conversation, so do to tag and follow us @theglossmag and @avocaireland on Instagram.

THIS WEEK: THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS AT AVOCA

Maoliosa Connell, Director for Marketing, Creative and Buying at Avoca, on joyful daily rituals, getting ready for Christmas and her #AvocaFeeling …

“This Christmas, Avoca’s message is about connecting – and re-connecting – with those we love, and the importance of celebrating and cherishing the little things, the moments of wonder and joy, against the backdrop of a very challenging year.

I have little daily rituals that bring me a sense of joy, always centred around the people I love. Every morning I wake up and tell my husband I love him before our busy days begin. I enjoy a walk in the evening with my mother who lives close by. When I’m in the office or at any of our stores, I love the ritual of simply greeting people with a smile and saying hello to my colleagues and the regular customers I have come to know over the years. If I’m driving to the office in Kilmacanogue, I always take the scenic route because I love to see the beautiful view of the Sugarloaf mountain, and I stop to take it all in every day, rain or shine! I always see the same elderly man who walks up that little winding road each morning, and we share a smile and a wave. I don’t know him by name, but every day we connect, which brightens up my day. For me, feeling happy is about feeling connected to others.

I started at Avoca many years ago. I have always loved retail, fashion and of course, food. Avoca is a brand that stands for authenticity and quintessential Irishness, while it also appeals to an international audience. I love its culture and ethos, its colour, fun and flair, its commitment to supporting Irish makers and designers, its rich history and heritage. Plus, our customers are so loyal and positive about Avoca, and I am a naturally positive person by nature, so it’s a wonderful fit!

For me, feeling happy is about feeling connected to others.

We’ve all navigated our way through a tough year. We have experienced a loss of routine, as well as fewer interactions with friends and loved ones. People want to uphold tradition in whatever little ways they can this Christmas, and Avoca wants to support those traditions and rituals that bring people joy. We want to spread joy through food, colour, special little gifts and more, in the hope that they bring fun, laughter and a feeling of connectedness. Avoca’s Christmas advertising radiates positive energy and joy. From the wonderful women of the Snamhai Sasta group swimming in the sea, to children playing and baking, the message of the joy in the little things truly shines through.

This Christmas, we have also partnered with Walk in My Shoes, the flagship mental health awareness campaign from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. The Avoca design team created a beautiful candle and paper chain decorations, with all proceeds donated to Walk in My Shoes. We hope this will have a meaningful effect on people’s lives, particularly at this time of year which can be difficult for so many.

We are incredibly proud of all our teams across all stores who have worked so hard in very trying and difficult circumstances with unwavering commitment to Avoca and our wonderful customers. They make sure our Food Markets are stocked, coffee is served, deliveries are made on time and customer service is second to none.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming our customers back into stores when we can re-open from December 2, fingers crossed! The stores at Christmastime really are magical – festive music playing, twinkly lights, customers feeling festive and doing their Christmas shopping – there really is no better feeling for me than the one I get when I see a store in full festive mode at Christmas. So, if you ask me what gives me that #AvocaFeeling, that is it. Come and see us soon! “

THREE READERS SHARE THEIR #AvocaFeeling:

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