Pushing the Season

 
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.  ~W.J. Cameron

As a store-owner, holidays are hard for me.  I sincerely hate putting out Halloween items in July and Christmas items in October.  And yes, Fall and our Thanksgiving holiday have been demoted to a holiday not quite worthy of notice, from a retail perspective.   On Sunday I was in my local Rite-Aid and all Fall and Thanksgiving items were marked 75% off.  A week before the holiday even happened they were clearance priced. 

Last year, our first in a brick and mortar store - we held strong to our philosophy and not one   Christmas themed item came out on the floor until after the Thanksgiving Holiday had passed. We had a great holiday sales season, but I did find that for the artisans that had brought in their hand-crafted Christmas decor didn't find those items sold-out by Christmas.  

What I learned was that by sticking to our guns we did a disservice to a few folks that had worked hard to provide holiday crafts.  I guess in today's world,  we buy our winter and Christmas holiday goodies in October, and not again until the week after Christmas when everything is reduced.  On Halloween night, (in the same Rite-Aid) I took note of a woman pushing a cart with a tall Santa in her cart.  Whether I like this or not, it is the way it is.  

So, we now know that in order to serve our artists (which is our job) we have to give the people what they want - and when they want it, regardless of our personal philosophy.  

And so we have done this year.  We put Christmas and Holiday decor out in October, albeit in a back of the store, down low sort of display.  And after Halloween, we moved out the ghosties and goblins left over, and allowed Christmas into the seasonal area - intermingled with our fall and Thanskgiving items.  And last week, we put up holiday lights in the store windows.  

And while I know it's the right thing to do for the crafters, it makes me grumpy.  But that will only last for a few more days.  I'll be ready for it as soon as the dishes are done from the Thanksgiving feast!

PL&BB - 

Penni