Businesses Get Earlier Headstart on Christmas

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, November 16, 2006

The yuletide is coming to America earlier this year – almost a season too early. Retailers have shelved Christmas merchandise and have put out Christmas trees as early as September this year.

"It looks like Christmas is starting early," said Cindy Thompson, marketing manager of The Parks at Arlington mall in Arlington, Texas, according to Toledo's WTOL 11.

Following a trend that mega-retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp. has done for years, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp., and other businesses have adorned their shelves for Christmas shopping at least two months before the holiday.

"Is it my imagination, or has the timeline moved up over the years?" said Donald Schultz, the visual manager for Boscov's in Monroeville, according to local Pittsburg channel WTAE TV 4.

With the holiday shopping season reportedly accounting for 25 to 40 percent of the year's sales, retailers are looking for more boosts in their profits with early Christmas shelving.

Some of the early merchandise includes artificial Christmas trees, which are already out in display at The Parks. Although artificial trees are getting better each year, many people do not want to settle for a "fake" tree.

With a high demand for real Christmas trees, one Christmas Tree expert recommends the Fraser Fir - the current favorite kind of cut Christmas tree.

Vicki Smith says Fraser Firs have a pleasant, mild scent and they are also long lasting, allowing the tree to be kept up in homes into January. The popular tree is available at local garden centers along with choose and cut (U-Cut) farms.

And with consumers largely going on the Internet for their purchases, other tree farms are allowing shoppers to order a fresh cut Christmas tree online.

FreshChristmasTree.com, which has delivered cut and boxed Christmas trees to people's doors since 1992, ships Christmas trees and wreaths across the nation – including Alaska and Hawaii – complete with tree care information and a tree removal bag.

While Christmas is moving in on other holidays such as Thanksgiving and even Halloween now, retailers do not plan on pushing the season even earlier into summer days.

Christmas Day this year falls on a Monday.