Christmas Starting Early This Year?
More and more stores putting Christmas decorations at earlier dates
Lindsay Prior
Issue date: 12/10/09 Section: Entertainment
Does Christmas seem to be coming earlier in stores every year? It used to be come before Thanksgiving, but now it seems that even prior to Halloween, the season is approaching faster than it used to. Whether walking into Wal-Mart, Bath and Body Works, or Hallmark, it seems every store has begun to disply its Christmas paraphernalia.
So why display Christmas items earlier every year? Mark Shuch, the store manager of Stauffer's of Kissel Hill in Mechanicsburg, says that the Christmas stock was indeed put out earlier this year. Stauffer's, a garden shop, right off of highway 15, also sells home accent decorations, which is how they make the majority of their sales this time of year. Drivers commuting home on the highway will past dozens of Christmas lights, enticing them to see the store's Christmas stock.
Shuch said his decision to put out Christmas stock earlier this year was not a conscious decision, but rather that the store was better organized and prepared to begin a new season as compared to last year. He did so blindly, not knowing how the customers would respond.
"I thought people would say 'bah, humbug but that didn't happen," says Shuch.
In fact, Shuch had a customer tell him that "we should skip over fall and go from summer to Christmas." Another customer said, "I want to be fully decorated by Thanksgiving."
"The sooner we put [the Christmas stock] out, the sooner they sell it," says Shuch. "We're just taking the lead from customers."
While some customers are excited about the option of shopping for Christmas decorations early, not everyone holds the same opinion. Some people believe October is far too early to start Christmas.
Kira Wenger, a sophomore at Messiah College feels the promotions are premature. "I was [in Cracker Barrel] like a week before Halloween and it was already decorated for Christmas!"she says.
Lizze Kraft, also a sophomore at Messiah College, works at Bath and Body Works. She said that on October 12, about two weeks before Halloween, she walked into work and the store was decorated with Christmas products, and Christmas music was playing.
"It was ridiculous!" says Kraft, "I've had to listen to Christmas music at work since halfway through October."
Although many individuals are likely not to appreciate Christmas' early arrival, Stauffer's of Kissel Hill's strategy shows there are paying customers who like to plan ahead with their shopping. In fact, Stauffer's rewards these individuals, offering their best prices of the season during the last weeks of October to lure shoppers in.
And who knows, at this rate- Christmas in July may eventually come true in stores!
So why display Christmas items earlier every year? Mark Shuch, the store manager of Stauffer's of Kissel Hill in Mechanicsburg, says that the Christmas stock was indeed put out earlier this year. Stauffer's, a garden shop, right off of highway 15, also sells home accent decorations, which is how they make the majority of their sales this time of year. Drivers commuting home on the highway will past dozens of Christmas lights, enticing them to see the store's Christmas stock.
Shuch said his decision to put out Christmas stock earlier this year was not a conscious decision, but rather that the store was better organized and prepared to begin a new season as compared to last year. He did so blindly, not knowing how the customers would respond.
"I thought people would say 'bah, humbug but that didn't happen," says Shuch.
In fact, Shuch had a customer tell him that "we should skip over fall and go from summer to Christmas." Another customer said, "I want to be fully decorated by Thanksgiving."
"The sooner we put [the Christmas stock] out, the sooner they sell it," says Shuch. "We're just taking the lead from customers."
While some customers are excited about the option of shopping for Christmas decorations early, not everyone holds the same opinion. Some people believe October is far too early to start Christmas.
Kira Wenger, a sophomore at Messiah College feels the promotions are premature. "I was [in Cracker Barrel] like a week before Halloween and it was already decorated for Christmas!"she says.
Lizze Kraft, also a sophomore at Messiah College, works at Bath and Body Works. She said that on October 12, about two weeks before Halloween, she walked into work and the store was decorated with Christmas products, and Christmas music was playing.
"It was ridiculous!" says Kraft, "I've had to listen to Christmas music at work since halfway through October."
Although many individuals are likely not to appreciate Christmas' early arrival, Stauffer's of Kissel Hill's strategy shows there are paying customers who like to plan ahead with their shopping. In fact, Stauffer's rewards these individuals, offering their best prices of the season during the last weeks of October to lure shoppers in.
And who knows, at this rate- Christmas in July may eventually come true in stores!
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