Forget that Thanksgiving isn't until next week, the Seasonal lights in the downtown city parks were lite in Milwaukee last night. Wal-Mart has announced the kind of sale prices usually seen in the last week of the shopping season, when they are desperate to make their numbers. But excuse me, we haven't seen the first real snow fall and most people aren't even thinking about Holiday Shopping yet. What is going on here?
Obviously, the merchandisers think they can get us in the mood to shop if they create the holiday atmosphere. It is a little tough, as my wife commented last night, to look at all of the lights and decorations and not think they would look better with even a light covering of snow on the ground. With day time high temperatures in the forties and nighttime lows barely in the lower thirties, that isn't going to happen soon.
I realize, having worked in retail, how important this season is to most retailers, but like the basketball, baseball and hockey season only the die-hard "Christmas is my favorite time of the year" kind of people enjoy this artificial extension. As it is companies and organizations are forced to hold their holiday parties for their members and employees in January because they have a tough time booking parties. The busiest shopping day might be the day after Christmas because people are returning unwanted gifts and there are those famous sales of seasonal items like decorations and gift wrap. How long can the season get?
I guess it's up to retailers and how they feel about Halloween, because if they want to they can start it anytime they choose to start displaying and promoting the theme. It's seems like an arms race. If one retailer starts the others feel as if they could also and if they get people to shop than who do we blame?
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