Because retailers plan their Christmas offerings so far in advance, most were too far along with trendy or ostentatious Christmas merchandise to change course last year, reports the Associated Press. This year they’re prepared to pursue the fiscally conservative consumer, which means everyone is selling the holiday decor equivalent of comfort food.
holidays
Hobby Lobby Worships The Great Pumpkin With Halloween Tree
By 10.7.09
Hobby Lobby, with its devout Christian ownership, isn’t the first store we’d think of to honor the Great Pumpkin. Yet reader James spotted this festive tree back in mid-September.
August? Pretty Much Christmastime, Declares Toys R Us
By 8.21.09
Mark, a host of a radio show called the Parafactor, is always on the lookout for paranormal activity. He found himself a bounty when he happened upon this Paramus, N.J. Toys R Us, which has bent space and time to move the holiday season into the dog days of August. Alert Santa Claus and Hanukkah Harry.
Hobby Lobby Starts Off The Christmas Creep Season In July This Year
By 7.15.09
Last year we had to wait until August before Hobby Lobby busted out the Christmas cheer. Not this year! They’ve got things rolling in July, baby. And no, this isn’t a “Christmas in July” sale.
No, Your Dog Does Not Want To Watch Fireworks And Drink Margaritas At The Beach
By 7.3.09
Consumer Reports is always ruining my fun. First, they want me to make sure that the fireworks I set off in my backyard are safety certified. Whatever. Now they’re telling me that I shouldn’t bring my dog to see fireworks with me. AND that I shouldn’t give her any beer, or even let her help herself to the barbecue this weekend.
Top Father's Day Gifts From Consumer Reports
By 6.18.09
Looking for stereotypical Father’s Day gifts? Consumer Reports Home & Garden has ratings on all of the gas grills, electric drills, weedwhackers, and leaf blowers a man could ever want. Or anyone who needs to flame-broil or drill holes into anything. [Consumer Reports Home & Garden]
By 5.6.09
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Here’s a list of cheap Mother’s Day gift ideas, like decorating flip-flops with rhinestones (it’s a deliberately cheap let-the-kids-help project), newsprint roses made by some girls club, and some sort of photo book through Facebook that’s free for the first 10,000 orders. [ABC News]
Passover Is Coming, And It's Your Chance To Buy Real Sugar Products
By 3.2.09
Passover is a holiday that has special meaning to everyone, regardless of faith, because it’s the time of year when some food and drink companies release products sweetened with real sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). If you want to stock up on real sugar Coca-cola or u-bet chocolate syrup (which I’ve never heard of, but John Hodgman seems to like), or if you just want to see whether you can really taste a difference between HFCS and cane or beet sugar, now’s your chance.
It's Going To Get Crowded At This Kroger Come Easter
By 2.15.09
You people had better start buying some of this holiday crap if you want Kroger to have any room for Fourth of July supplies. At least, we’re assuming this is left-over holiday coffee for sale. If it isn’t, then, as our tipster Paul puts it, “I believe that February 14th marks a new record for the earliest start of a store’s Christmas Shopping season.” *shudder*
By 2.14.09
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Thieves stole all the roses—400 of them—from an Ohio florist yesterday, as well as the vases, the decorations, and the computer. [Associated Press] (Photo: tillwe)
Oh No, People Can't Afford Stupid Crap This Valentine's Day
By 2.14.09
Yesterday I passed by a Godiva store in midtown Manhattan and saw that it was packed with frustrated looking men in suits lined up to the door. It reminded me of how manufactured this particular holiday is. After all, these men hadn’t all shown up at the same store, on the same day and for the exact same reason, spontaneously; it took years and years of conditioning. But is there room in the new Poor America for the sort of spendy nonsense that Valentine’s Day demands? The New York Times takes a look at how people are cutting costs, and ignoring mass-marketed fauxmance for cheaper and more personalized experiences.
Best Buy's Holiday Discounts Failed To Impress
By 1.9.09
Best Buy’s same store sales were down 6.5% as their discounts failed to convince you to buy, says Bloomberg.
No Store Was Spared The Holiday Bloodbath, Not Even Walmart
By 1.8.09
Walmart missed its same store sales estimates (considered the most important barometer for the health of a retail operation) for December — leaving analysts “shocked and disappointed.”
Retail Management Re-defines Holiday $pirit
By 1.2.09
I’m sure many Consumerist readers either currently or previously had to work as a part-time wage-slave. Now that the holidays are over, what are the ‘best’ sickening sales creeds that management has ever given you?
By 12.31.08
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Here are some tips for recycling your Christmas tree.
CVS Raises The Creep Bar: Easter Treats In December!
By 12.31.08
Reader Bob sent in this picture from a CVS in Indianapolis. Those are reduced price Christmas decorations in the background, and in the center: delicious Easter treats!
By 12.27.08
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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that yesterday’s post-Christmas sales were lackluster for retailers. We don’t know about the rest of you, but we were way too full of eggnog and cookies to actually get up and go shopping.
