In Conversation with Ambiance
We caught up with Mel from Ambiance at Queen Victoria Market who has been running Ambiance for 27 years, creating a festive atmosphere with unique, themed Christmas decorations. They love bringing joy to customers with their creative displays and passion for Christmas.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and Ambiance?
I started Ambiance 27 years ago with just one small room and a cupboard of Christmas items. Since then, we’ve expanded to six rooms filled with colour-coordinated Christmas themes, including Grinch and under-the-sea rooms. My sister joined me as the business grew, and we’ve been in partnership for over 26 years. We attract customers from all over the world, offering a wide variety of decorations, including Australian-themed items and nativities, with something for everyone.
What does Christmas look like for you and your family?
Christmas is very special in my house. I have two sons and three grandchildren. We celebrate by putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the entire house—inside, outside, and even the backyard! My little granddaughter, who is four, always comes in and says, “Wow!” to everything.
The grandchildren love to rearrange all the Christmas decorations on the trees and enjoy the nativity sets, and they love to tell each other the story of Christmas. They talk about how Jesus came to the stable—but in their version, they call it a garage. Instead of the three wise men, they say there were people who loved Jesus and wanted to give him presents. The presents could be anything, from gold to a doll, a football, or even something Star Wars-themed.
You just never know what Christmas will bring to our house!
Can you share a special memory you have of working at Queen Victoria Market?
I think the very best memory I have of working at Queen Victoria Market is the people I’ve met. We’ve been here a long time, so we’ve had the chance to connect with so many people. It’s the fact that we get to mingle with them, learn about what they do for Christmas, and hear about their hopes and wishes.
Every time someone walks through the door with a big smile on their face because they’ve seen our shop, it’s a truly special memory for all of us.
What is popular this year for Christmas?
The most popular decoration this year is a Christmas tree ornament that lights up. The glitter inside swirls around, creating a magical effect. We brought in 144 of them, sold out, then brought in another 100—and sold out again!
Nutcrackers and nativity sets have also been very popular, along with all the other decorations we offer. But the most popular of all is the Grinch—we have Grinch everything!
How do you stay updated on Christmas décor and gift trends?
We stay up to date with a lot of trends by attending trade fairs and private Christmas showings. But sometimes, we create our own trends! For example, we decided to do an underwater sea creatures’ theme, and now we see so many other shops doing exactly that.
The concept of having colour-coordinated Christmas rooms comes from my background in teaching art. We did a lot of work with colour and ensured displays were at eye level. A lot of what we do here is inspired by that experience.
How do you create a festive atmosphere in-store all year round?
I think the festive atmosphere in our shop comes from our personalities and how much we genuinely love Christmas. We take joy in bringing the magic of Christmas to everyone who walks through our doors.
We love seeing people’s reactions—they’re always amazed by what we’ve done and how much they enjoy the shop. It’s wonderful to hear that they go back and tell others, “You’ve got to check out the all-year-round Christmas shop!” That kind of feedback keeps us feeling upbeat, and we hope our enthusiasm creates a festive and cheerful experience for all our customers.
What do you love most about being a trader at Queen Victoria Market?
What I love most about being a trader here is the people we’ve met over the years. The traders at Queen Victoria Market have become some of our closest friends, it truly feels like a community.
I honestly believe we have one of the best Christmas stores in the Melbourne CBD—and I can say that confidently because I’ve heard it over and over from customers from all around the world. People come in and tell us, “This feels just like the Christmas fairs in Germany,” or, “This reminds me of Christmas shops in America or Italy.” I think we’ve built a loyal clientele who just love Christmas. The market itself really comes alive during this time of year, and it’s wonderful to be part of that festive spirit.
I’d like to say a heartfelt Merry Christmas to everyone! We hope you have a truly happy Christmas, filled with joy and love. We wish you a safe and wonderful time celebrating with your family and loved ones. Take this time to come together and enjoy everything magical about Christmas. Remember, Christmas is a time for peace, love, and kindness, and that’s what I wish for everyone this holiday season.
Explore Ambiance at Queen Victoria Market on Monday through to Sunday located on Elizabeth Street, shop 509-511.
