Why does everyone start hawking Christmas now?

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With Halloween barely over, advertisers (and many stores) are behaving like it's mid-December. They never did this "back in the day."

Besides, it spoils Black Friday, IMO. Does anyone else feel like :rolleyes: when they see all this?
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    Why does everyone start hawking Christmas now?
    They have something to sell?
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    I hate it too, but this has been going on for a while now. The whole year has become one holiday season after another. Halloween itself is 10x more commercial than it used to be, as is Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      There are several fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year than is usual. That's one reason it's starting so soon.

      Another is the continuing weak economy where retailers are trying to extend holiday buying mentality as long as possible.

      I think there will be some great sales just before Christmas this year.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Because unfortunately - or fortunately depending on how you look at it - it works to sell stuff.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Many retailers make 50% of their yearly profit in December alone. One reason is that they start their marketing early so people think ahead. If Christmas is big in your family, it is chaotic trying to buy all the gifts you need and the food and extras. By allowing more time to shop, it gives you more time to spend more money and then you'll have more presents for more people.

    Notice the word "more?" It translates into MORE profits for the retailers because of all the "mores" involved.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Because they can?
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    • Profile picture of the author msdobe
      I don't like it either, but it obviously works for the retailers. I remember when I was a kid nothing went up until the day after Thanksgiving... and people thought THAT was too early.

      Oh, those were the days!
      Jenny
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      • Profile picture of the author Horny Devil
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        Yep, no-one likes the build-up starting so early but it's big business, and competitors try to steal a march on each other so the jingle bells appear to start earlier every year. It is annoying, kids buzzing around you like queen bees, "Dad, I want this, Dad I want that". But hey, life's short. Better the early buzz of Christmas than a late scramble.

        Have you got your Easter eggs in yet? I hear The Simpsons one is the biz this year. Or should that be the buzz next year?
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  • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
    Originally Posted by Hopeless Bromantic View Post

    With Halloween barely over, advertisers (and many stores) are behaving like it's mid-December. They never did this "back in the day."

    Besides, it spoils Black Friday, IMO. Does anyone else feel like :rolleyes: when they see all this?
    Well at least they aren't playing Christmas music over the loud speakers yet. :p

    On another note, it seems to be working on the little kids. My grandchildren were over this past weekend and asked to to watch Christmas movies and cartoons so I went and pulled them out early. (Mind you, I'm not complaining.)

    Anyway, the store displays and commercials on television are working. Big bucks are spent on little kids every Christmas. How many times have you heard it said, "Christmas is for the children?"

    Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Didn't they generally start in september and build up? ODD, Apparently they tried to make a movie for Christmas once. As I understand it, they MISSED THEIR TARGET!!!!!!! They failed SO miserably that they didn't even dare mention christmas or santa claus, etc... HERE, watch the 1947 trailer for it:


    For those FEW that maybe don't know, it is a veritable STAPLE for Christmas now!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      HERE, watch the 1947 trailer for it....
      Very interesting approach to advertising! Thanks!
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  • It's not unusual here in the Philippines, the Christmas season unofficially starts in September and ends just before Valentines. My mother used to sell Christmas decorations and she would start making them in June and her entire inventory would be sold out by November. I'm the Grinch in my family because I only start putting up Christmas decorations by November.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by John Jonas Phil VA View Post

      It's not unusual here in the Philippines, the Christmas season unofficially starts in September and ends just before Valentines. My mother used to sell Christmas decorations and she would start making them in June and her entire inventory would be sold out by November. I'm the Grinch in my family because I only start putting up Christmas decorations by November.
      That's ANOTHER thing! SOME people celebrate Christmas, OFFICIALLY, around January SIXTH!!!!!!

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author UK US Marketing
    Because it works - and for that we have our girlfriends to blame lol
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  • Profile picture of the author seoasia
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      Many retailers make 50% of their yearly profit in December alone. One reason is that they start their marketing early so people think ahead. If Christmas is big in your family, it is chaotic trying to buy all the gifts you need and the food and extras. By allowing more time to shop, it gives you more time to spend more money and then you'll have more presents for more people.

      Notice the word "more?" It translates into MORE profits for the retailers because of all the "mores" involved.
      But from what l have heard, everyone is looking but not many Aussies are buying, at least not yet.

      But unfortunately the walkways are getting narrower, and there are more kids to trip over, etc. :rolleyes:


      Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

      Well at least they aren't playing Christmas music over the loud speakers yet. :p

      On another note, it seems to be working on the little kids. My grandchildren were over this past weekend and asked to to watch Christmas movies and cartoons so I went and pulled them out early. (Mind you, I'm not complaining.)

      Anyway, the store displays and commercials on television are working. Big bucks are spent on little kids every Christmas. How many times have you heard it said, "Christmas is for the children?"

      Terra

      Gee, you are lucky, we are getting barraged with it. Go to the shopping centre, over the carpark speaker.

      Go into the shopping centre, more of the same.

      Then, the real test, go into a grocery store, arrrrggggg, tacky xmas carols!


      There is one in particular, that sounds like the lead singer to the boomtown rats, is singing, (or trying to) it, while drunk!

      Worst Xmas song l have ever heard, l hope they ditch, that one asap!

      The Xmas carol, with the Just Jeans pig, is a good one, they should play that more often!!!

      And of course we have Santa going around, scaring small children to death!

      Fun to watch, but l hope he keeps away from me. Scary!!!!

      Although his female helper, certainly could! He, he!


      Shane
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  • Profile picture of the author Sirr
    I've had excellent success this year selling toys on eBay. The companies investing the money to push Christmas early has had a positive impact on my eBay business
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      The end of year holidays are generally when consumers tend to be in peak buying mood. Promotions should be aggressively maximized to capitalize on this marketing goldmine for many niches. And if your anticipatory marketing didn't begin with enough lead time, you may be missing out on perhaps the greatest shopping boom in five years.
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  • Profile picture of the author DarioMontesdeOca
    Tell me about it! It was before Halloween I was doing some grocery shopping and already hearing Christmas music and "Jesus Christ.. Jesus Christ".. The employees at Trader Joe's must want to change the music by now (to put it mildly)
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