to not understand why shops have christmas decorations up already?

[deeedeee]

About half the shops in out town have christmas trees in their windows already, and christmas decorations. Some have had them for a few weeks already. A shop I was in today was even giving away mince pies on the counter.

I don't get it. Why? It's not even december. It's just depressing seeing christmas stuff everywhere, makes it so blatantly commercial.

I can understand putting up some lights and sparkle, some winter decorations maybe look nice and brighten the dark nights, but the full on christmas shebang for 2 months?

Do you work in retail? why do you do it? Does it really increase your takings? Do you not feel embarrassed about it?

To add: I work in retail, ours have been up since late September. Yes it has increased takings. If Christmas stock is there people will buy it. They'll buy stuff that has been sitting there all year long in September if you put it under a bit of tinsel. People are sheep.

Then you get that shops - which employ thousands of people - have to try and maximise Christmas sales. For some of them it's the difference between surviving or not. And people buy when they are in the mood to buy.
Christmas decorations prompt people to buy.

And being organised is essential if you don't have a great deal of spare time. Having some of the Christmas gifts in store does help me buy early and not have to worry when I'm very busy the week or two before Christmas Day.

It's wine Belibdabelle

Really Jen? that's depressing . and I guess I'm going to be in the minority on this.

By the way, I love christmas, i love buying/making/baking presents. I love the decorations. I love christmas markets. I just hate them in Novemeber.

Shops put the decs up so early because people will buy continuously In the run up to Christmas. If you put them up in December, people will buy stuff in December, but if you put them up in september people will buy in september, then come back in oct,Nov and December. That's 3/4 times the potential income.

These are commercial establishments, not Divine Keepers of Sacrosanct Christmas Magic. Your kids' horrible excitement levels are not their concern.

I hate it too. I've been smelling fucking cinnamon since September but our bosses are happier and are off our backs a bit because takings are up. And I get a bonus for every month that we meet our target.

Thanks Jen.

Thanks to all for answering my question.

You think November is too early? Our local shopping centre had this summer holiday themed Santa's grotto for a week one August!

"Sorry I didn't know there was a christmas topic."

"and sorry, i didn't know it had been done to death."

Wild stab in the dark - you've joined in the last year and rarely/never go beyond AIBU?

Can I lure you to use 'Active Convos' instead as your basic place from which you spring on to threads that interest you?

You'll find there's so much more to MN than chat!

(and one of the reasons for there being a Christmas topic at all is so that those who like to begin it early can do so amongst themselves, without inflicting it on everyone else - like the high street shops you complain of - until Advent. So YABU for a thread in this topic about Christmas)

Once halloween is out of the way - full steam to Christmas in the retail calendar.

I go to the Spring Fair in Feb (which is the entire of the NEC) - and one whole hall is just made up of Christmas Decs.

Mind you, as soon as you get to boxing day it will be summer holiday adverts and creme eggs.

It's a month till Christmas Eve. That's fine. It is now officially too late to start a Christmas too early thread.

I have had all of my Christmas decorations and my Christmas tree up since last week. You would hate me

End of November isn't too early. Most people need to budget and spread things out. I work full time and couldn't cope with leaving it all until mid December.

Xmas decorations are up in the shops so what? Just ignore if you don't like them. In the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. Getting annoyed by something so trivial is a waste of energy imo.

Why does anyone really care?

I went late night shopping tonight. I am almost done.

It's nearly December and it brings a bit of sparkle to drab November.

most people start their shopping in october, they get paid monthly, therefore, they only have 2 paydays to buy everything.

I'm almost done, i've got 3 presents left to buy.

All i can say, is Bah fucking humbug.

I appreciate not everyone wants it shoving down their gullets, but some of us love christmas, love everything about it, the decorations, the lights, the music.. why do people insist on being so fucking miserable and trying to spoil it for everyone else?

You don't like it, fine, don't like it, but stop bloody moaning.

Early xmas decorations/ lights used to really bug me. Now however, I say a silent prayer of thanks whenever I see any xmas bling anywhere. The earlier the better. Ds1 (9) has relatively severe autism, and xmas lights etc make him blissfully, blissfully happy. If no decorations went up anywhere until December he would only have a few weeks of joy instead of a good couple of months.

Bring it on! It won't kill anyone else.

I've just put a wreath on our door [runs]

Pastizzi that's really sweet, I'm glad he enjoys them so much

i've spent the day making christmas tutus for my DD and DN to waft around in on Christmas Day... although i have to say, i'm looking rather festive as the sparkles on the sparkly tulle don't stay ON the tulle.. i'm covered in the stuff!

Off to a christmas food and craft faire this weekend too!

most people start their shopping in october

Interesting. Can you post your research on this?

It's quite simple really.

They want it to feel all Christmassy so you'll spend money.

Not sure what's a mysterious about that?