Gus Fusses

As most of us Canadians finish with our Thanksgiving turkey and get ready for Halloween, it still shocks me that department stores and other merchants start showcasing their Christmas items for the season.

This past weekend while walking through The Bay, I was a little put off that they started to put out their Christmas decorations and items for sale already. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE their Christmas items the put out, and always get great ideas for Christmas that season. I think it still surprises me that we’ve just finished Thanksgiving and Halloween is just around the corner and yet here we are – Christmas decorations.

I don’t know what merchants are thinking this early in the game. Do they really think that consumers are going to be out buying Christmas items this early in the game? I know there is a “first to the market” mentality, but isn’t placing these items this early going to deter the consumer from shopping there, at least in October?

I’ve worked in retail before and just hated seeing items come out right after Halloween. Yup I thought that was EARLY! By the time Christmas actually arrived I was so desensitized to Christmas that was bothersome.

So please merchants, don’t ruin Christmas again by placing items out so early in the game. I think you only hurt yourself in the long run as you will put off the consumer you so valued.

In respect to The Bay, the photo above was only one section that seemed to be open to the public. The rest of their display was well behind curtains and not accessible, but still pretty much visible and know that in only a few days, those curtains will be down.