Christmas coming earlier: More retailers now count season's length in months, not weeks

Over at the Omaha World Herald, writer Barbara Soderlin has yet another article in the news about stores opening earlier this year.


(from: omaha.com - Christmas coming earlier: More retailers now count season's length in months, not weeks

Probably the best line from the article:

What’s creepier than all the Halloween masks on display?

The “Christmas creep” shoppers will see as holiday promotions and sales arrive in stores even earlier this year.

(from: omaha.com - Christmas coming earlier: More retailers now count season's length in months, not weeks

Read the rest of Barbara's article here.

You can follow her on Twitter at @barbarasoderlin, and as always we're at @respectturkey.

WSJ: Expect Retailers to Open Even Earlier This Thanksgiving

Andria Cheng at the Wall Street Journal wrote up an article about how retailers are expected to be open for a full day of shopping on Thanksgiving Day.

While retailers aren’t expected to announce any special Thanksgiving hours until the second half of October or into November, “it’s inevitable to see them open all day or even earlier than last year,” Joel Bines, managing director and co-leader of consulting firm AlixPartners’ retail practice, said in an interview.

(from: WSJ: Expect Retailers to Open Even Earlier This Thanksgiving)

Even though retailers are planning to make people work on Thanksgiving Day, it may not even do much to boost their sales.

To be sure, opening early on Thanksgiving may do little more than ruin employees’ turkey feasts.

Last year, retailers from Wal-Mart and Best Buy to Macy's and J.C. Penney opened stores or kicked off sales events earlier on Thanksgiving. Still, record Black Friday weekend sales didn’t salvage what turned out to be a disappointing holiday season.

“With the soft sales outlook, we do anticipate a few earlier openings” on Thanksgiving, or even a few more all-day openings, Mr. Johnson of Customer Growth said. “However, there is a law of diminishing returns,” and stores risk cannibalizing their December sales.

(from: WSJ: Expect Retailers to Open Even Earlier This Thanksgiving)

So even though some retailers will admit that shopping on Thanksgiving doesn't help their sales, and shopping too early can actually harm their December sales, they're all going to go through with it.

You can follow Andria Cheng on Twitter at: @andriacheng and as always we're at @respectturkey

The Buzz: Leave Thanksgiving alone

Maureen Wallenfang wrote up a great article with results from a survey her readers responding to a poll she started about people shopping on Thanksgiving.

Her question was:

"What do you think about stores being open all day on Thanksgiving?

Are you in the camp that enjoys the longer opportunity to shop and take advantage of deals and doorbusters? Or will you forgo the lure of big savings to preserve the holiday and take a stand for retail employees who will lose the holiday altogether?"

(from: postcrescent.com - The Buzz: Leave Thanksgiving alone)

Over 400 readers responded, and all but a few were against stores being open on Thanksgiving.

Readers had comments such as:

"If people can't get enough shopping done in 12 hours a day, seven days a week, outside of those holidays, there's something wrong with them."

"Asking employees to work crazy hours when they traditionally have been sleeping, enjoying the company of family, attending religious services, etc. is something that makes me avoid some local businesses,"

"What's the point of giving thanks for everything, if all we're after is more stuff?"

(from: postcrescent.com - The Buzz: Leave Thanksgiving alone)

More people out there shouting the message clearly to stores, Respect The Turkey!

You can follow Maureen Wallenfang on Twitter at: @wallenfang and as always we're at @respectturkey

Kohls Christmas 101

Only 101 shopping days until Christmas!

I'm really not sure Kohls ever takes their decorations down.

To be fair they did have some Halloween and Thanksgiving things there, they were just mixed in with all the normal stuff.

GeekDad - #NoEarlyXmas – Let’s Put Christmas in Its Place

Just saw a great post from a like minded individual about putting Christmas in it's place.

What do you say, people? Are you with me? Shall we start a social media campaign with #NOEARLYXMAS aimed at spreading this idea and pushing back at the retailers. They’re not doing wrong – they’re just following the money. We’re in control, with our wallets and our message. If we use those to change the behavior, the stores will follow. I hope.

Great article, and we're on board! #NoEarlyXMas and #RespectTheTurkey!

Read the full article here: GeekDad.com - #NoEarlyXmas – Let’s Put Christmas in Its Place

It's only a week into september

Reddit User whooz-dat-guy found this gem while out shopping only a week into September!

reddit /r/pics - It's only a week into september...

And here we go again

Usually we don't fire the Respect The Turkey machine until at least a few weeks into September, but it looks like some stores are already firing up their merchandising machines to fight for our dollars.

WCJL in Savannah, GA has a report of a bunch of stores with their gear already out:
Christmas in September? Some stores already selling holiday decorations

As a reminder, here at RTT we're not against Christmas.
Not at all!
We just feel like businesses are disrespecting other holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, who are almost being wiped off the calendar.

The stores don't put the Christmas things out because they love the Christmas holiday and spreading joy.
They put them out because they are begging and pushing for people to spend more and more money.

People keep pushing the numbers about how much money Americans spend on Christmas shopping.

But really, if you start shopping months and months earlier isn't it just... shopping?