In a weak economy, it’s common for stores to roll out holiday goods this month. Christmas merchandise has been at Costco stores since September 1st and will begin showing up on some Home Depot shelves on September 19th. Kmart and Sears will begin selling Christmas trimmings September 25th, and Walmart and J.C. Penney will start selling Christmas merchandise before the end of the month. “Retailers are putting out a little bit of holiday stuff earlier each year,” says Mike Gatti of the National Retail Federation’s marketing division. “They know a substantial number of consumers will pick out Christmas tree ornaments even as they’re picking out Halloween pumpkins.” More than 37% of shoppers – and 42% of women – plan to do some holiday shopping by Halloween, according an NRF survey. Nordstrom is bucking the trend. “It’s been our long-standing tradition to not decorate our stores for the holidays until after Thanksgiving,” spokeswoman Pamela Lopez says. “We believe in celebrating one holiday at a time.”
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Christmas In September
In a weak economy, it’s common for stores to roll out holiday goods this month. Christmas merchandise has been at Costco stores since September 1st and will begin showing up on some Home Depot shelves on September 19th. Kmart and Sears will begin selling Christmas trimmings September 25th, and Walmart and J.C. Penney will start selling Christmas merchandise before the end of the month. “Retailers are putting out a little bit of holiday stuff earlier each year,” says Mike Gatti of the National Retail Federation’s marketing division. “They know a substantial number of consumers will pick out Christmas tree ornaments even as they’re picking out Halloween pumpkins.” More than 37% of shoppers – and 42% of women – plan to do some holiday shopping by Halloween, according an NRF survey. Nordstrom is bucking the trend. “It’s been our long-standing tradition to not decorate our stores for the holidays until after Thanksgiving,” spokeswoman Pamela Lopez says. “We believe in celebrating one holiday at a time.”
