As some of you have probably already noticed, this year's holiday shopping season has started a little earlier than usual. For those of you who have not noticed the early arrival of the season, don't worry, you aren't blind, you are just proof that retailers have been successful in their attempt to start the holiday shopping without anyone noticing.Typically, we can at least expect retailers to wait until we get past Halloween to start the hard hitting marketing campaigns, but this year is a bit different. Retailers usually expect strong sales leading up to the holidays, but this year there are economic jitters weighing on the minds of consumers, along with fear related to the massive Chinese toy recalls that we have witnessed this year, and are likely to continue to hear about.
Fearing a slow season, retailers are doing their best to get you in the "shopping mood" without outright declaring the kickoff to the holiday season. Here are a couple of examples of just how they are accomplishing this:
- Wal Mart (NYSE: WMT) has already started slashing its toy prices, but has yet to announce any holiday savings plans
- Popular clothing retailer L.L. Bean has already begun to offer free shipping to its customers, but will not refer to this as a holiday special. I guess we should just believe the company is giving free shipping out of the kindness of its heart.
- Toys "R" Us is hoping that shoppers will start to take advantage of its new temporary store in Manhattan, but if you want to find the name of the store, you will need to rummage through ads to discover that it's being called the "Holiday Express".
So, if you haven't noticed the start of the shopping season, don't worry ... chances are you are not alone, and that is just what these retailers appear to be planning. Next time you are out and about, keep your eyes open and pay attention -- it seems like Santa is coming to town early this year, he just may be in disguise!
[Photo: Bart Fields]
Michael Fowlkes has worked as a stock trader for seven years and spent the last two years working as an analyst for the online investment advisory service Investor's Observer
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2007 @ 12:58PM
just.me57 said...
RETAILERS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING IS GONE , THEN PUT THERE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP ..............
LET'S BE THANKFUL , FOR THE STUFF WE'VE NOW .
I'LL START MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WHEN I'M
READY AND IT'S NOT NOW ,,,,AFTER
THANKSGIVING ................WHY RUSH
EVERYTHING , PLUS EVERYONE DOESN'T WANT TO
SEE CHRISTMAS BEFORE HALLOWEEN AND
THANKSGIVING .
BUDGET IS THE BEST THING TO HAVE , THIS WAY
YOU DON'T OVERSPEND.
10-27-2007 @ 11:26PM
Clay S. Conrad said...
I'll do my shopping this year in New Orleans -- via the internet.
I've set up a directory of New Orleans companies selling products over the internet. I've included a bunch of New Orleans recovery charities in the list:
www.buyneworleans.blogspot.com
Most people spend more on holiday shopping than they ever contribute to charities. But money spent through New Orleans e-tailers helps rebuild the New Orleans economy, helps New Orleanians keep employed and in business, etc. Every dollar spent through New Orleans companies helps that city recover from the tragedy of 8/29, when the federal levees failed inundating 80% of the Big Easy.
Who needs your money more: Amazon or the Louisiana Music Factory? It isn't a difficult choice.