Liberty of London

The phrase ‘Christmas comes early’ usually denotes a positive experience. But for the workers at the legendary shop Liberty of London, Christmas means pressure. The seasonal section of the enormous department store opens in September, so staff have to ensure all their baubles are in a row before the doors open. But will a sudden heatwave suck the festive spirit out of all of them?

Iconic department store Liberty has always been synonymous with bold, innovative design. But in the digital age, how can a traditional retailer stay relevant while not losing its identity? Liberty’s bigwigs try to see into the future and clash over tradition versus vision. Elsewhere, a celebrity book signing has the staff in a bit of a flap. Can an embarrassing crisis be averted?

Tensions rise as Christmas approaches. It’s make or break for the store and its employees, as they need their customers to splurge dramatically during the holiday season. To achieve this, every festive element has to be perfect, from ribbon tying to bauble polishing to the facade of the lavish store itself. But can the staff step up and stop this Christmas from being a turkey?

It’s panic stations as an A-Grade celebrity suddenly drops into the store: Pharrell Williams. He’s launching a new fragrance to be sold exclusively at Liberty and everything has to be perfect, or he won’t be ‘happy’. Elsewhere, a Shark Tank style pitching contest for new products is launched. But will trench coats for dogs really be the answer to the department store’s problems?

Time to don your most expensive and spangly outfit as it’s New York Fashion Week and the buyers from Liberty are on the hunt for the latest designs to sell in the store. Back at home, there’s even more glamor as a fabulous Vogue event is organized. The idea is to sell couture to the achingly fashionable attendees, but will they just focus on the fizz and forget about the frocks?

The pressure to sell never alleviates, even when you're a staple at the store. Long-serving carpet expert Bruce is off to Morocco to select new stock, but as his sales are slipping, someone is sent to keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, a new face at the store has been hired to tap into the lucrative Chinese market. But does this singular establishment have the products that they desire?

The festive season rolls around once again and pressure mounts as the sales targets for staff are even tighter. Tis the season to get tills ringing and the store needs this Christmas to be a blockbuster. Many new recruits are hired to fill out the seasonal roster, but only the very best will be kept on after Christmas is over. Will these rookies be able to tackle the intensity?