| 'Christmas
creep' in the stores could work to family's advantage
By Jamee
Hutton
If you think Christmas is coming earlier than normal,
you are right. Every year you can hear people complaining
about how stores start playing Christmas music and put
out holiday decorations earlier than the year before.
This year it is absolutely true.
While retailers may think they have out smarted us consumers,
we really know exactly what it is they are up to again.
Halloween is over but Christmas decorations have already
been up for a few weeks, and those tricky stores have
fooled you into buying those decorations even though
you immediately went home and complained to your neighbors.
How did they do it, you might ask? It can be summed
up in two simple words: ON SALE.
When you think about it the plan is pure genius. No
matter how annoyed you get when you are sent to the
back corner of the store two weeks before Halloween
to find your costume because Christmas decorations have
taken over the prime space at the front of the store,
you can't help but look at the holiday displays as you
pass. On your way back up to the front of the store
you pass by the Christmas decorations again, only this
time you take a longer look because big signs that say
20 percent off and 30 percent off catch your eye and
you are drawn to them. They got you once again. You
end up leaving the store with more shopping carts than
you can push alone and your head held high because you
saved $200. We won't mention the fact that you ended
up spending $300 that you hadn't planned on, because
you're such an amazing bargain shopper.
There is no need to feel badly about the fact that you
were once again outsmarted by corporate America, their
job is to make sure you want to buy what they are selling
and they have become mighty good at it. Just remember
that you are fueling the reason the Christmas season
begins in
October.
The new tradition of the "Christmas Creep"
as it has so lovingly been named, is not all bad. If
you stop for a moment and take a look at your daily
life most of us will say that there are not enough hours
in the day to accomplish all of our many tasks. With
decorations and toys being sold so early these days
we are given ample time to shop for all the people on
our list way before Christmas, giving ourselves a chance
to actually relax and enjoy our families over the holiday
season. While on one hand some consumers might see retailers
as the devil in disguise, others may suggest they are
only trying to look out for our happiness and enjoyment.
NW
JJ
|
