Will Department Retailers Cease Their Holiday Décor?

Large department stores and national retail chains are shifting their Halloween decorations to less prominent spaces before October 31 to make room for gingerbread house decorating kits and other festive items. This decision is a tricky one, as it can lead to customer annoyance and loss of holiday sales. In 2020, retailers reported that shoppers were purchasing holiday decorations sooner than before, possibly because decorating earlier could make the store more appealing. Retailers should avoid putting Christmas merchandise out too early, as it takes time and money to prepare their store, staff, and inventory.

Department stores often boast lavishly decorated windows, a plethora of gift ideas, and a unique sense of theatrical occasion during the holiday season. Big chains will offer certain festivities, like Champagne bars, that were missing last year, and gift ideas and decorations will feature more prominently in stores. There is a big demand for holiday decorations, so stores get merchandise early so they can restock over several months to meet those demands. Retail stores put out their holiday items three months in advance.

Halloween and Thanksgiving haven’t passed yet, and it might be a make-or-break season for a segment already under siege. Some businesses may need to wait until the 25 Days of Christmas to start decorating, while others may not. By following this retailer’s guide, businesses can get their stores ready for the holidays and ensure a successful holiday season.

Are people happier if they decorate for Christmas early?

It has been posited by experts in the field that the early installation of Christmas decorations can result in an increase in levels of happiness and friendliness amongst the general public. This is thought to be as a result of the stimulation of the feel-good hormone dopamine, which is triggered by the use of colours and lights.

Why is everyone decorating for Christmas so early?

Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown and therapist Amy Morin have both found that putting up Christmas decorations early can extend excitement and connect people to their childhood memories. They believe that nostalgia helps link people to their personal past and helps them understand their identity. Research by Science Direct in 2020 also found that people who prepare early are seen as more personable, as decorations interacted with sociability in a complex but interpretable way.

In the absence of Christmas decorations, raters accurately distinguished between the homes of sociable and non-sociable residents, attributed to the relatively more “open” and “lived in” look of the sociable residents’ homes. This suggests that putting up Christmas decorations early can help people reconnect with their childhoods and maintain a sense of community.

When should a retail store be decorated for Christmas?

Mid-November is a prime time for businesses and retailers to showcase their holiday decorations, as the holiday shopping season begins. Thanksgiving serves as a traditional gateway to the Christmas season in the US, with Black Friday marking the start of Christmas shopping. By decorating post-Thanksgiving, retailers align with cultural rhythms, ensuring the holiday spirits do not overlap. This approach appeals to traditionalists who believe putting up Christmas decorations in November is too early, catering to a segment of the population who believes in keeping the holiday spirit confined to its designated month.

Why are stores selling Christmas decorations early?

Holiday creep is a phenomenon where retailers take advantage of heavy Christmas-related shopping well before Black Friday in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada. The term Black Friday was not used until recently in the UK and Ireland, and its increased usage can be attributed to the internet’s widespread use and growing Americanization. Previously, retailers referred to Christmas as the “golden quarter”, which is the three months of October through December.

The lack of Thanksgiving as a “barrier” between holidays has led to retailers opening Christmas stores earlier in the year, such as Irish retailer Brown Thomas. This phenomenon can apply to other holidays, such as Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Bastille Day, Columbus Day, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Rosh Hashanah, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Seasonal creep is not limited to the northern hemisphere winter holiday season and other popular holidays and observances, but is also becoming more common for merchandise associated with a general season of the year. Advertising for winter-, spring-, summer-, and fall-related goods generally begins midway through the previous season. In Canada, there have been protests that marking the Christmas season should be refrained until after Remembrance Day November 11.

In Australia, shops have been known to have their Christmas merchandise available as early as late September, mainly because older Australians generally don’t celebrate Halloween compared to younger Australians.

When should a business decorate for Christmas?

Lakota Coffee in Columbia, Missouri, typically begins its holiday decorations around the end of November, putting up a Christmas tree, lights, and a few presents. Steph Davies, owner of Waxwing, a local goods store in Shorewood, Wisconsin, prefers to decorate one holiday at a time. Most national retailers like Walmart, Target, and Macy’s start decorating in late October and early November. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, 98% of shopping centers start decorating during the first week of Thanksgiving, and 74% spend over $20, 000 a year on holiday decorations. Davies suggests that businesses should not go overboard with holiday cards or small items, as this strategy encourages customers to return and check for those items later on.

Are people who decorate for holidays happier?

A study from the Journal of Environmental Psychology suggests that decorating for the holidays not only boosts one’s mood but also makes one appear friendlier to neighbors. The holiday season serves as a reminder of the past and holds happy memories for most people. The holidays stir up nostalgic feelings, as ornaments from childhood or lights on a house may remind people of their childhood magic. Additionally, decorating the exterior of a home for the holidays can be a way to participate in social activities and gatherings in the neighborhood.

Why do some people not decorate for Christmas?

The essence of the holiday spirit is derived from the human element, rather than the mere presence of Christmas lights. Genuine celebration entails the allocation of time for meaningful interactions with individuals of significance. A focus on the individuals with whom one is celebrating and the manner in which one engages with them allows for a more expansive and meaningful celebration. It is of greater consequence to make each day count than to achieve perfection in decorations. The consumption of food and cakes prepared for Christmas serves to indicate to people that it is Christmas, thereby reducing the need for storage of such items for use in the following year.

Do people leave Christmas decorations up all year?

New Year’s tree ideas are a great way to start year-round festivities. Choose a palette of blue, white, gold, and/or silver colors, and replace fluffy flocking with shining tinsel strings for a touch of glitz. Add festive party favors for guests to pick out and enjoy as surprise tree-bough presents. Happy New Year tiaras and shiny party hats are popular among the party crowd, and stock your tree with shimmering noise makers to celebrate the countdown with a joyful noise. This way, you can start changing up your tree for the New Year’s celebration.

When should you decorate for all holidays?

One should commence the decoration process for the holiday in question no earlier than the day after the previous holiday or approximately three weeks prior to the holiday itself. For example, Thanksgiving, which falls between November 1st and November 7th, should be decorated for approximately three weeks prior to the holiday.

Is it okay not to decorate for the holidays?

Interior designer Lesley Myrick shares her personal preference for minimalism in home decor, rather than party planning, tablescaping, and holiday decorating. She believes that the holiday season is the time when many people get excited about putting effort into their home decor, but she also finds the sheer volume of decorations annoying and adds stress to the already busy season.

Lesley Myrick suggests that instead of having a house full of tiny Santas, one should focus on creating a festive atmosphere that brings warmth, sparkle, coziness, and connection to the home. This involves all five senses: sounds, smells, touches, and tastes of the season. The sounds of the holidays can be evoked through music like Mannheim Steamroller’s 1984 album “Christmas”, which transports the listener back to childhood.

Digital Christmas music can make it feel like living in a Hallmark movie, while holiday smells and tastes can be introduced through burning candles, diffusing essential oils, and baking pies with the kids.

Materials that make the home feel cozy and cuddly include chunky knit blankets, faux-fur pillows, and fabrics with a hint of sparkle. Drape a festive blanket over the back of your sofa and add a seasonal throw pillow for a mini room makeover that won’t take up much storage space the rest of the year. Lighting can also be used to evoke holiday magic, with simple plug-in dimmers for table lamps turning them from functional to moody and magical. Flickering candles are always welcome, and the warm glow of a fireplace is always welcome.

Lesley Myrick emphasizes that there’s no right or wrong way to decorate for the holiday season, but if it feels like a burden instead of a benefit, choosing simple sensory pleasures over the frenzy of holiday decorating might be the key to capturing the feel of the season you’ve been longing for. By combining holiday tunes, something delicious to snack on, a warm blanket to wrap around you, and ambient lighting, you can create a festive atmosphere that doesn’t feel like a burden.

How many people don’t decorate for Christmas?

The majority of Americans plan to decorate for the holidays, with an average of four hours spent on the task. Christmas trees are the most popular decorations, with 67 people preferring fake trees and 33 preferring real ones. Other popular decorations include garland, Christmas lights, mistletoes, and snowmen. Half of Americans decorate their homes with both indoor and outdoor Christmas lights, while 1 in 3 only decorate with indoor lights and 1 in 10 only use outdoor lights.