Business owner Kim Miller has gone all out in decorating her workplace for Christmas.
The Ashburton real estate agent said her expansive collection of figurines, trees and decorations had been one she had built up over the years.
‘‘This has been a life-long collection, from when my kids were little,’’ Miller said.
Those kids are now aged 27 and 25.
She started bringing her collection into her office at Ray White on Tancred St about three years ago, after Hokonui Radio ran a Christmas window display competition.
She has sourced items from near and far – Ashburton retailers in the CBD, a favourite Christmas shop in Christchurch, another in Melbourne, as well as online marketplaces such as Temu.
A life-size singing and dancing Santa came from Facebook Marketplace, while a ceramic Christmas tree came from an op shop.
‘‘I just pick things up year-round,’’ Miller said.
She said seeing the reactions of people coming into the office, children and adults alike, made it all worth it.
‘‘I love Christmas, I love how it makes people feel. People come in and go ‘Wow’. It’s the magic of Christmas.’’
It was a love instilled in her from a young age, from her late grandmother Irene.
Irene had preferred celebrating the end of year tradition over the many birthdays each year of her eight children and more than 20 grandchildren.
“So, everything was about Christmas,’’ Miller said.
The personal touch ties in well with a nationwide Ray White initiative for people to leave a present under a tree in the office, to help disadvantaged families.
The Ashburton office also runs a Letters to Santa initiative and colouring-in competition.
