When Do Gonks Go on Sale? A UK Gonk Calendar
Seasonal gonks arrive earlier than you might think, and the best ones sell out. Here is a month-by-month guide to when each range usually reaches UK shops.
Every year, someone spots the perfect gonk, decides to come back for it later, and finds an empty shelf. Seasonal gonks usually arrive in UK shops well before the occasion, and popular designs can sell out within days. This calendar shows the typical pattern, so you know when to start looking.
Timings vary between shops and from year to year. Treat these as a rough guide rather than fixed dates.
January: Valentine's gonks
As the Christmas stock is cleared, Valentine's gonks start to appear: pink, red and white, often holding hearts. January is also the best time for Christmas gonk bargains, as shops reduce leftover stock in the sales. If you don't mind waiting eleven months to use them, it's a good moment to add to your collection.
February and March: Easter, St Patrick's and Mother's Day
Easter gonks, with pastel hats and bunny ears, usually arrive in February, along with green St Patrick's Day gonks and floral Mother's Day designs. Supermarkets often sell Easter gonks as limited seasonal lines, so they can be in store one week and gone the next. See our Easter gonks guide.
April to July: the quiet months
Gonk ranges are smallest in late spring and summer. You'll find gardening, sun-hat and beach gonks, mostly online and from Etsy makers. It's a good time to buy handmade or personalised gonks for later in the year, before makers get busy.
August: autumn and Halloween arrive
Garden centres and homeware shops often bring out autumn and Halloween gonks in August, while it still feels like summer. These are the designs that sell out fastest: one high street chain's Halloween gonks famously sold out online within about two days. If you want a particular witch or pumpkin gonk, August and early September are the time to buy. See our Halloween gonks guide.
September and October: Christmas begins
Many garden centres open their Christmas shops in September, and gonks are usually front and centre. This is when you'll see the widest choice: giant gonks, new colourways, coordinated families and limited designs. Homeware chains and department stores follow through October.
November: peak gonk season
Supermarkets and discount shops are fully stocked, online marketplaces are busy, and gonks are everywhere. Choice is still good, but the most popular designs and sizes start to sell out. If you're ordering personalised or handmade gonks for Christmas, order early in the month to be safe.
December: last-minute gonks
You'll still find gonks in December, especially online and in supermarkets, but choice shrinks quickly. Check delivery cut-off dates before ordering. Once Christmas is over, the sales begin and the cycle starts again.
Five tips to get the gonks you want
- Buy when you see it. Seasonal stock comes in limited batches and is rarely restocked.
- Check online stock in local stores before you travel, where shops offer it.
- Follow your favourite shops on social media, where new gonk ranges are often announced first.
- Shop the January sales for next year's Christmas gonks.
- Look on eBay for designs that have sold out in shops. See collecting gonks for tips.
Find out where each type of shop fits in our guide to where to buy gonks in the UK, or see the whole year at a glance in gonks for every season.
