I went food shopping today and was surprised to find that they had already started stocking the shelves with Halloween candy and decorations. According to my calendar, it is still summertime. It's bad enough the stores started their back to school promotions right after July 4th (the kids had only been out of school for a few weeks). None of the schools around here have started yet, but even if they had, Halloween is still over two months away for goodness' sake! And really, who wants candy that is over two months old, anyway? Have you ever bitten into a stale Reese's peanut butter cup? I have...Yuck!

By Momoffour on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 11:10 pm:

At Dh work they will be putting up Christmas the first of Septmeber.. Way to Early

By Tink on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 11:15 pm:

I work in a school supply store and we are already highlighting our Thankgiving merchandise! I would really like to just enjoying a season as it comes instead of anticipating it for so long that it is old hat by the time the calendar says that it has arrived!

By Cocoabutter on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 11:53 pm:

I worked in a large retail store. Stocking the shelves way ahead is common, partly because of limited storage space for seasonal stock in the stock room. By the time Halloween buying gets into high gear with the big sales, the shelves will be ready to go, and before Halloween actually arrives, the Christmas stuff comes out and sometimes they make room for that right next to the Halloween stuff! Would you like some fake blood to go with that Santa doll?

By Colette on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 07:38 am:

I went to TJ Maxx on Thursday and they already have their Christmas stuff out.

By Sunny on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 10:34 am:

No sign of Christmas here...yet. I'm sure that will change soon. LOL

It would be nice to enjoy each season and holiday as it comes. I guess I'll just have to look the other way when shopping.

By Dana on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:07 am:

I find that early stocking is very upsetting to me. I think there is nothing wrong with waiting til you are closer to the actual dates. I hate watching the holidays come earlier and earlier EVERY YEAR!

But then again, I don't like the children's clothing styles available either, but that doesn't seem to make a difference either. HOw so many of "us" can feel this way yet market sales still reflect otherwise is beyond me.

By Colette on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:21 am:

I am with you Dana on the whole clothing styles thing. I watched 20/20 the other night and they did a whole thing on it. What amazed me was the parents complaining about the clothing styles, while they were at the mall buying the clothes for their dks. It is totally possible to buy stylish, tasteful clothing for dks. You have to be prepared to really shop around and teach your kids the difference between stylish and tackiness.

By Tunnia on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:52 am:

I was in Walmart on Friday and I asked a guy who worked there when all the summer toy stuff would go on clearance (I'm a Box Tops for Education coordinator and I try to get all my prizes on clearance) and he informed me that was over several weeks ago and now it is time for the Christmas stuff. I said "Christmas stuff in August?" and he said that is what he was clearing the shelves for. Much, much too soon for me!

By Mommyathome on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:54 am:

I like it when the stores "push the season". I love to go in and look and anticipate the upcoming holidays.
Of course I still know what season it is, and I enjoy it for the time being. The holidays aren't actually moving up on the calendar. They still come at the same time, and we have the choice not to look in the holiday department at the store.
I just love all of the holidays and can hardly wait each year to start seeing signs of upcoming holidays!

By Yjja123 on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 04:50 pm:

I am with mommyathome. I like the items being available early because I finish all my shopping for Christmas by October. I like to have November and December stress free. I can enjoy all the fun activities that come along without worrying about getting anything done. I generally shop all year long but pick up the Christmas themed items when they show up in the stores.
Yvonne

By Mrse on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 05:18 pm:

Well for me pushing the season is ok, but you should still be able to buy a swimsuit, in aug, the stores kind of forget that we do have public indoor swimming pools.