It’s Christmas in July time again

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It’s Christmas in July time again

July 20, 2009 – 9:42 am – No Comment

Can you believe there are only 160 shopping days left until Christmas? Retailers can, and they’re trying to take advantage of not only the low shopping season, but they’re also trying to make some consumers conscious of this and bribe the bargain shoppers into the stores.

Christmas in July promotions are in full swing, especially after retailers in the United States posted 10 straight months of declines in sales. Big chain retailers like Sears and Toys R Us are both holding the Christmas-esque sales promotions prior to back-to-school promotions.

The back to back sales is just another way to try to drum up some sales while many retailers are trying to keep their heads above water.

Sears, who started its sale last week, “decked the halls” in around 1/3 of its stores (including its website). Promotions on winter wear and porcelain collectibles strongly contrasts the sale of flip flops and shorts.

While Sears may not be bringing out the lights and Christmas trees for sale just yet, the Christmas cheer is spreading early to stores like the Hobby Lobby, where you can now find aisles of tree trimmings and decorations throughout the store. Your mileage may vary on this very early occurrence, but it is happening.

While exact expectations for the promotions have not been disclosed, many assume that Sears and Toys R Us are looking for success that is similar to Nordstrom, who has an annual sale in July that features discounts on winter wear. The Nordstrom sale has become so popular that the company’s sales are as high in the second quarter as in the fourth; and its biggest day of the year (as far as sales are concerned) is the first day of the sale.

I personally think the idea of having a Christmas in July sale is a bit hokey. If you want a reason to have a sale, just call it a super sale or something. Then again, I think that some people become numb to all the sales that are going on and tune a lot of it out. Think Macy’s and it’s “One day sale.” I always hear about the Macy’s sale and never go because the One Day Sale is the same as what is always on sale anyway, in my opinion anyway.