Sound off: Christmas decorations out at The Bay
Posted September 13, 2016 1:15 pm.
Last Updated September 13, 2016 7:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Last year, Costco had its Christmas decorations out in stores in August.
This year, employees at Hudson’s Bay at Queen and Yonge streets were working on the Christmas display on Sept. 12.
Megan Price noted on Twitter that it was still September, far too early for nutcrackers and tinsel.
Another person found Christmas trees up for sale.
When CityNews visited the same store around noon on Sept. 13, workers were hanging ornaments on display stands and hanging garlands.
“The fourth quarter, which includes Christmas shopping of course, has always traditionally been the one that is most important for retailers,” says Graham Scott, deputy editor of Canadian Business.
“They make almost all of their profits during that home stretch of the year.”
Scott is quick to point out, though, that the driving force behind the early décor is the shoppers themselves.
“Retailers are really responding to what consumers are looking for,” he says. “Nielsen recently did a poll of (American) consumers around their holiday shopping and found 36 per cent of them had started their Christmas shopping as early as September 23rd.”
Hudson’s Bay spokeswoman Tiffany Bourré agrees.
“With the important holiday season approaching, and many customers excited for the opportunity to begin their holiday planning and shopping early, we are happy to provide them with an exceptional selection of holiday and winter décor and gift items,” she said in an email.
Back to school, it seems, is over.
Have you seen Christmas decorations at other stores? And is September too early for Christmas shopping?
