It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in stores

[Michael Rielly]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in stores

EXCERPT:

USA TODAY
September 7, 2006 10:47 PM
By Bruce Horovitz

Even as Labor Day burgers sizzled on the grill earlier this week, the Christmas push was already underway for some major retailers.

...

Perhaps the early holiday hype is not so crazy for retailers who want their share of consumers' holiday spending — about $435 billion last year.

...

Still, not everyone thinks Christmas in September is a swell idea. "It creates a disconnect with the consumer," says retailing expert Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group. "The consumer wants to buy now and wear now, but the retailer wants to sell six months in advance."

FULL STORY (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-09-07-christmas-september_x.htm)

[sarahelizabeth]

People talk about this every year. About how the season starts "too early". It's been like this for as long as I can remember. I think it's good to *start* brining the stuff out in September.

[dvdelf]

christmas requires prep time. If it was vd (valentines day) in December I would complain

[sheepsnot]

It's been like this for as long as I can remember. Which is how long? It wasn't always like this, though deep down those of us who complain really can't get enough Christmas anyhow! 8)

[gameshowguy2000]

Well, I went shopping at a Dollar Tree store over the weekend, and not only was the Halloween stuff at the entrance and exit, so was the Christmas stuff! (no big trees, only miniature ones)

[kjh888]

Here in the UK we have mince pies in the shops already, and the packets read "best eaten before October 16th" !!!!

[Ervserver]

well it's good to have seasonal pie before the season, sort of a warm up for more pie and the rest of the goodies.

:???:

[sheepsnot]

Mmmmm, seasonal pie!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d145/dandsf480/drool.png

[dvdelf]

droooolll

[Ervserver]

maybe even a pre-pre pre-seasonal pie