2008.09.29
Holidays on your mind
Ready or not, the holiday season is coming. Retailers are making sure that we know that.
Each year, it seems that stores roll out their holiday merchandise a little earlier than the previous year. Sometimes, it's really not much earlier, but it may seem that way.
This year, the economy is one reason that Wal-Mart plans to bring out its Christmas get-up during the second week of October. Because households want to stretch out their holiday spending, the retailer said today that it expects consumers to start checking off their gift lists earlier this year.
By the second week of next month, Wal-Mart will start filling the shelves in its Christmas shop. The full line-up, including toys, will be in stores by Nov. 8.
For more examples of how other retailers are pushing this gift-giving season, read this story.
What holiday items have you seen lately at local stores?
Where do I start on this one without ranting too much. I saw Hallmark had x-mas out in late July. Right in the front window. Saw an ad on TV today with Santa in it but that was for QVC so they have some excuse since what you buy is mailed. Sure more will be on soon. Surprised that Wal-mart is waiting that late for them. Remember about three years ago I went to one in early September to get string for my weedeater. Couldn't find any but I could buy a plastic Santa and Frosty and Rodolph and lights!!! Don't know about the rest of you but my grass still grows that time of year. Last year I remember Xmas ads starting in early October. Unless it's mail order give us until after Halloween please.
Comment by Mike D — September 29, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
Twist & Turns in downtown Roanoke has had a beautiful Christmas display up for a few weeks.
Comment by Michelle — September 30, 2008 @ 8:15 am
I was in K-Mart in Salem last week and they had cleaned off a lot of shelf space...and were putting Christmas decorations out! Also saw it at some other store, can't remember which. I know Halloween stuff was coming out in mid to late summer! I do understand that there is a lot of work (in a larger store) to change out seasonal things, but come on, three months early!?!?
Comment by Dennis — September 30, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Nothing wrong with putting out Christmas stuff early we need to keep it out all year so everyone can be in that same mood all year... and maybe we can all get along better and live better lives...
Comment by James — September 30, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
The problem with having it all year round is that it kinda loses that special meaning.
I've often thought,similarily, that is why Girl Scout Cookies are so coveted and treasured - cause they only come once a year.
If you could go to Kroger any day,any month and buy them, I guarantee you people would not go crazy over them the way they do now.
Christmas comes earlier every year, commercially, and I think it is stupid.
However, it doesn't diminish what Christmas time is to me because I do my best to ignore it all until December anyway.
Comment by Rigby — October 1, 2008 @ 11:13 am
I was in Lowe's on Franklin rd today and they have already cleared out their Xmas decorations and are putting out the summer stuff. Looks like two weeks after not before Xmas. They even had 50% off. Could this be due to the economy or are they just being different this year.
Comment by Mike D — December 15, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Mike D you beat me to the punch! I was going to ask our super sleuth Jenny to check on the Lowes situation. I was really shocked to find almost all of the Christams items gone from Lowes. I went to the one on 220 and the one at Crossroads and neither of them have anything left. It doesn't even look like Christmas in the store. Jenny can you find out if they did this to boost holiday sales or to get rid of merchandise they might normally be stuck with. I can't help but to think they lost money on the stuff this year. They had everything at 50% off over a week ago.
Comment by Greg — December 16, 2008 @ 8:41 am
Greg/Mike...I believe this was done by Lowes to boost sales because of the economy. It's rare for the Christmas stuff to go on clearance this early, but they needed something to help drive sales and bring people into the stores. The Lowes I work at in Pulaski County did the same thing, and it did help to bring more people in over the last few weeks that the weeks preceeding. I still think sales are down, but not as much as they could have been.
Comment by Other John — December 16, 2008 @ 12:05 pm