It's Christmas, but some of Granville's most important customers have plans to leave town. Not only is Madge planning to take his beloved Mavis away for a Christmas break, but is Mr Newbold also thinking of doing a runner, leaving Granville at the mercy of Mrs Featherstone's amorous advances? Granville has to use some of his craftiest wiles to persuade everyone not to travel at Christmas. After all, as well as wanting to stay close to Mavis, he's also got to shift a large number of distinctly wonky Christmas crackers.
Granville has a new idea for growing the business and branches out into offering fitness classes, while Leroy is keen to take out a librarian, but she's refusing to give him a date. Mr Newbold believes he has hit on the perfect way to repel the attentions Mrs Featherstone - all he needs is a completely new image; but one that Mrs Featherstone does not like.
Mr Newbold has decided to barricade his house against Mrs Featherstone, but Granville is sure he wouldn't be so keen to avoid her if he knew all about her hidden exotic past, even if she doesn't actually have a hidden exotic past get in his way. Meanwhile, a lycra-clad Eric and Cyril push the envelope of masculinity on their new tandem, Mavis takes Granville up on his offer of a tour of his Victorian cheese-slicer collection, and Leroy tries to make the most of having to dress up as a banana for business reasons.
Granville encourages Gastric to express his artistic side in a local art competition, but he throws himself into self-expression more enthusiastically than anyone could have predicted. Granville buys a large collection of mystery tins. Unfortunately, Leroy and Granville are still none the wiser on the contents after they've opened one. Now they face the ultimate challenge - how can you sell something when you have absolutely no idea what it is?
Madge is thinking of leaving the area and telling Mavis she has to go with her, so Granville has to come up with a reason to keep the woman of his dreams from moving away. There's also a little problem of how to shift a load of jars of crab apple jelly so sour it could strip teeth. To make matters worse, Granville's best customers Eric and Cyril have taken a vow against ever being conned again. Mrs Featherstone has made Mr Newbold a lunch offer he can't refuse.
Madge and Mavis are about to leave the area. Granville sets up a big night out in a pricey restaurant so he and Gastric can persuade their lady loves to stay. The only problem is that Granville's money belt seems to be tightening every time anyone looks at the menu. Leroy's romance with Beth finally seems to be getting somewhere, but the time has come introduce her to his father. Granville has come up with the perfect way for Eric and Cyril to get their wives' attention - make sure there are rumours that they have been seen out and about with another woman.
A trip to Scarborough presents Granville with an opportunity to combine business with pleasure as Mavis invites him for lunch in a seaside hotel. Can Granville get a moment alone with her without Madge and can he manage to stop thinking about what is going on in the shop for long enough to let romance blossom? Back in Arkwright's, Leroy is in charge for the day. He is young, keen and full of confidence. What could possibly go wrong and why is there a customer out cold in the middle of the floor?
