My Merry Christmas

Black Friday in a down economy should spell a total win for Christmas shoppers. Indeed, word on the street is that the deals will be fast and furious this year. While these aren't our final Black Friday prognostications we think the rumors about the following are solid and should be considered as you make your buying plans.

1. Smaller screen HDTVs will be dirt cheap. Isn't it funny what we consider small these days. Turn back the clock 20 years and a 25-inch tube television was the hottest "... [Read More]

The big news in Black Friday 2011 so far is not what is going on sale. It is when things go on sale. As traditional retailers continue to get squeezed by the 24/7 accessibility of online merchants they are struggling to find ways to gain an edge. This week both Macy's and Target announced midnight openings for their Black Friday events, perhaps changing forever the landscape of the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping.

The midnight openings mirror those of some major malls in select markets that... [Read More]

9 November 2011
Special to My Merry Christmas.com
By Jeff Westover


The media widely reported today of the seemingly incomprehensible idea of a tax of fifteen cents per tree for consumers purchasing a real Christmas tree. Rarely has an issue in the news about Christmas brought such a vociferous response.

Unfortunately, inaccuracies in media reporting and news outlets already spinning the story to support a particular political agenda has skewed what the real situation is. This is o... [Read More]

Americans are looking forward to a merrier Christmas in 2011 despite attitudes that remain dim about the economy. In the 12th annual Christmas survey commission by My Merry Christmas.com about the attitudes of Christmas a divide is emerging about the economy of Christmas and just what constitutes a "merry" Christmas.

Fifty-eight percent of survey participants anticipate a merrier Christmas in 2011 despite the fact that a whopping 83% remain negative about the world economy. That optimism abo... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover

Only in America could something as unromantic sounding as stuffing be classified as an art. For many, the star of the show during a Thanksgiving feast is not the turkey and it is not the pumpkin pie – it is the stuffing.

Stuffing is the one food element of Thanksgiving that seems to have multiple roots. In fact, the very idea of giving Thanks is one very universal thought in itself. The Romans gave thanks to their gods, so too did ancient Hindus – and, of course, the... [Read More]

By Jeff Westover
26 November 2011

Make note of the date on this article. It is being written the day after Black Friday 2011. And yet the headline teases of a prediction. How hard is it to predict an event after it happens?

There is a purpose to my madness here. Hear me out.

In years past we have invested the time for months and weeks preceding Black Friday in researching both retailer and market trends in an effort to prognosticate what would be hot or not on the so-called busies... [Read More]