Home Depot's 'miracle trees' -- another sign of the War on Christmas?

Jonathan Berr — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:53:00 EST

Filed under: Home Depot (HD), Gap Inc (GPS), Lowe's Cos (LOW)

In a move bound to arouse the ire of a few religious conservatives, The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is selling what it calls "Miracle Trees" on its web site.

These "Miracle Trees" look suspiciously like what some folks call "Christmas trees." In fact, the company says that people who buy them will "enjoy less mess and more cheer." A representative for Atlanta-based Home Depot couldn't immediately be reached for comment, so it remains unclear what "miracle" these things are supposed to perform~~. I'll update the post if I hear from the company. T~~he name of the product came from the manufacturer, according to a Home Depot spokeswoman, who added that the company continues to call Christmas trees by their given name.

The right-wing American Family Association, which earlier this month criticized Lowe's Companies (NYSE: LOW) for calling Christmas trees "holiday trees," was aware of the the Home Depot "Miracle Trees" but had no other immediate comment. Word of the "Miracle Trees" also has spread to talk radio.

With the holiday season about a month away, AFA already is on a heightened state of alert to ferret out Christmas slights. The Gap (NYSE: GPS) is in the group's penalty box for "censoring Christmas" for the second year in a row.

"At Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, Christmas hardly exists. For these three companies, all owned by Gap, the only items listed as having anything to do with Christmas were a pair of boxer shorts and a child's sleepwear set," the group says. A spokesperson for San Francisco-based Gap couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Update: Gap spokesman Greg Rossiter denies the retailer is anti-Christmas. The company encourages its 150,000 workers to greet customers "warmly" during the holiday season. "They are not required to use that greeting (Merry Christmas) nor are they required not to," he said in an interview.

Who would have thought that Christmas wasn't commercialized enough?

Gallery: 'Tis the season to boycott: Would Christmas by any other name be so controversial?

Home Depot's 'miracle trees' -- another sign of the War on Christmas? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lowe's, PetSmart targeted by conservatives battling the 'war on Christmas'

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, Ford Motor (F), Lowe's Cos (LOW)

Looks like the so-called "war on Christmas" has begun. Lowe's Cos. (NYSE: LOW) and PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETS) have angered the American Family Association, a prominent religious conservative group.

The home improvement retailer earned AFA's ire by calling Christmas trees "family trees" in a catalog. A Lowe's spokeswoman, speaking to the Charlotte Observer, called using the term an error that came during the "creative process." Lowe's has profusely apologized and the AFA has apparently forgiven the company. "We appreciate Lowe's for listening to its customers and responding appropriately to our concerns," AFA said on its website.

Gallery: 'Tis the season to boycott: Would Christmas by any other name be so controversial?

Continue reading Lowe's, PetSmart targeted by conservatives battling the 'war on Christmas'

Lowe's, PetSmart targeted by conservatives battling the 'war on Christmas' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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