With only 160 shopping days left, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in some stores.
Reuters - After U.S. retailers posted 10 straight months of sales declines, some chains are trying to bring holiday spirit — and revenue — to the summer with "Christmas in July" promotions.
Both Sears Holdings Corp and privately held Toys R Us are holding wintry holiday-themed events this summer ahead of their back-to-school promotions, which usually start around the end of July.
Christmas in July? Digi sites and QVC made the yuletide rounds this weekend. Value, fear and greed make strange bedfellows - when they join forces, we are the receiptants/targets of this strange trio. While most people are jsut trying to make it through the day or week, the thought of what to buy Aunt Millie for Christmas seems like a bad joke. The news is filled with Stories about how alcohol is ruining our society but whine about the lack of sales. Obesity is running rampant. In 1993, there was no state with a 20% obesity rate - today, there are 49 yet we are bombarded by fast food ads everywhere we go. Our TV broke last week so we got a new one - free delivery, free install and free hauling away of old TV. When we bought new appliances last year, I spent over $300 on delivery charges.
I dare say we have lost our way when Christmas starts before Back To School. You can feel the desperation not of the Season but of the retailer. At the end of the Day, perspective is called for and should not be graded on a curve. It is exactly times like these, that we need all the perspective we can find to keep ourselves from going crazy.
This morning, The Daily Digi made this observation, There are so many ways to teach, model, and practice a giving spirit. When gifts come for no reason other than love and care, they mean so much more.. Perhaps, we could get an early start on teaching ourselves and those around us, a sense of giving. Not just gifts but that is part of it. Bigger isn't better. It isn't about covering every square inch of space under the tree. Look around - what do you see? What could you mirror for those around you? Maybe the idea of Christmas in July isn't such at bad idea, hmmmm.
