Yes, a joke.

A huge problem with seasonal markets is, well, seasonality. People complain about Christmas goods appearing in the shops in September but it’s the only way to push stock into the trade (and out of the factory) to answer the huge surge in demand.

So what happens for the rest of the year? Answer: companies cultivate new product areas, a bit like McDonald’s offers breakfast and coffee between meals, to smoothen demand and make sure staff are not twiddling their thumbs half the day.

I can understand why the German company that made the product on the left decided to extend its peak season EASTER BUNNY chocolate to spread the peak in demand. But somehow Christmas bunnies just don’t ring right. At least they added the wink to the packaging, just in case we didn’t get it. I did. I grew up on sarcasm and irony. But I still didn’t buy it.

I wonder what’ll happen if I go back at Easter. Perhaps they’ll have a Father Christmas dressed as a bunny. Or how about a naughty fluffy female Santa Claus dressed as a play bunny for Valentine’s day?

Whatever, keep trying. It’s a variety market (see notes on Assael and buying behaviour), so you’ll always pick up the occasional customer with wacky ideas.