The Christmas ornament causing a stir (again): Why Typo's cheeky decorations keep making headlines

Every year, like clockwork, Australian shoppers discover something in Typo's Christmas range that makes them do a double-take.

This year's conversation starter? A $9.99 festive ornament that's supposedly a cactus but looks like something else entirely—and shoppers are absolutely here for it. Can you guess what it looks like?

The latest buzz began when a woman shared her discovery in an online group, asking whether her eyes were playing tricks on her.

'Either way, I'm buying it!' she declared, sparking a thread full of like-minded shoppers ready to embrace the cheeky humour.

A tradition of pushing boundaries

Born in 2009, Typo is the ultimate gifting and stationery destination, and one of Australia's fastest growing lifestyle brands. But what many shoppers don't realise is that controversial Christmas ornaments aren't an accident—they're part of the brand's DNA.

Typo is known for their tongue-in-cheek designs, including a cat licking its behind and a mooning Santa. Previous years have featured stripper Mrs Claus, cheeky cats grooming themselves, and even goon bag ornaments. It's a deliberate strategy that's made headlines before.

The brand's most controversial moment came in 2020 with an ornament featuring an elf holding a sign reading 'Santa's not real.' Parent backlash was swift, with one father urging others to complain until the items were removed from shelves.

A Typo spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia that they 'missed the mark' and are removing the elf ornament from stores to ensure it doesn't ruin any more Christmas magic.

The Cotton On empire behind the cheeky brand

What many shoppers don't realise is that Typo isn't just a quirky stationery store—it's part of one of Australia's biggest retail success stories. Cotton On is the main brand of the Cotton On Group. It dates its origins back to Nigel Austin's first denim jacket sale in 1988. The first Cotton On branded store opened three years later.

Image source: Typo.

In 1991 we opened our first store in Geelong, Australia. We've since taken our spirit to the globe, expanding to 1300 stores, 8 brands and 20+ countries. It was followed by Cotton On Body, Factorie and Typo in 2007, and Rubi in 2008.

Today, the Cotton On Group is a retail empire with eight brands in 22 countries and over 1,400 stores worldwide. Typo's provocative approach fits perfectly within this young, bold brand philosophy that's been pushing boundaries since founder Nigel Austin started selling denim jackets from his car boot in the 1980s.

Why controversial Christmas is having a moment

This year's cheeky ornament controversy comes as Christmas decorating trends for 2025 embrace exactly this kind of playful irreverence. Transform your home into a maximalist masterpiece with the Kitschmas trend. Snowman Butler Christmas decoration, £115, Bright pink jumper glass Christmas tree decoration, £16, both Rockett St George are leading the charge.

All things kitschy, whimsy and colorful are all the rage this year, and if you have a bold color palette in mind, just do it! Forget classic and restraint colour schemes and go wild rocking all the colours of the rainbow and all their shades at the same time.

The trend towards 'maximalist' and 'kitsch' Christmas decorations means retailers like Typo are finding their provocative approach more mainstream than ever. 'No matter the theme, everything holiday is trending toward a cozier vibe overall,' said Colleen Hall, vice president of marketing at C&F Enterprises. But 'cozy' now includes a healthy dose of adult humour.

The generational divide in Christmas humour

What's fascinating about these annual Typo controversies is how they highlight generational differences in what's considered appropriate Christmas fare. While some parents express outrage, younger shoppers and empty nesters often embrace the cheeky humour.

'Whilst some of our products are more irreverent than others, we do appreciate that as a gift retailer, our customers fall either side of our target audience of 18-35 so where relevant we use censor stickers on products not appropriate for a younger audience.'

For many Australian seniors, these ornaments represent a refreshing departure from overly sentimental Christmas décor. They're conversation starters, ice breakers, and a way to inject personality into traditional celebrations.

The psychology of shock value retail

Typo's approach taps into a well-established retail psychology: products that generate controversy also generate conversation, and conversation drives sales. Each social media post about a 'shocking' Typo product becomes free advertising, reaching audiences who might never have visited their stores.

At Typo we believe in breaking the rules and bending the lines—because creativity and progress thrive in the space between square and round, digital and analogue, need and want. We design products that bring personality to your everyday, turning the expected into the unexpected, the ordinary into the extraordinary.

This strategy clearly works. Despite regular controversies, Typo continues to expand globally, and their Christmas ranges sell out quickly each year. The 'controversial' ornaments often become the most sought-after items.

What savvy shoppers should know

If you're planning to check out Typo's Christmas range this year, here's what to expect:

Timing matters: The most talked-about items often sell out quickly or get pulled if complaints escalate. Early bird shoppers get the best selection.

Know your audience: These ornaments work brilliantly for adult gatherings, secret Santa gifts among friends, or households that appreciate irreverent humor.

Price point: Collab Resin Christmas Ornament · $9.99 Most controversial ornaments are priced under $15, making them accessible impulse purchases.

Store policies: 'As a brand we're taking immediate action on this and have made the decision to pull this ornament from our range globally, both instore and online.' Items can be removed without warning if complaints mount.

The bigger picture: Christmas retail in 2025

Monash Business School's Australian Consumer and Retail Studies (ACRS) annual seasonal retail research shows that almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of Australian shoppers plan to make a purchase at end-of-year sales events across November and December. Black Friday has been gaining traction in recent years and is now Australia's top sales event, surpassing Boxing Day.

In this competitive environment, retailers like Typo need to stand out from the crowd. Controversial Christmas ornaments aren't just about shock value—they're smart business in a market where attention equals sales.

Whether you find Typo's latest Christmas ornament hilarious, horrifying, or somewhere in between, one thing's certain: it's got people talking. And in the attention economy of modern retail, that's exactly what the brand is counting on.

As one Facebook commenter perfectly summed up the annual tradition: 'Some of my best inappropriate Xmas ornaments are from Typo.' For many Australians, that's not a bug—it's a feature.

What's your take on cheeky Christmas ornaments—harmless fun or holiday sacrilege? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this year's festive talking points in the comments below.