"60% of our sales are during the Christmas shopping season"

[SoCalDem]

This was uttered by a merchant being interviewed on CNN. On the surface it's not that big of a deal, BUT it also points out that the merchant may not be all that viable as a business.

The things that people usually buy at Christmas are NOT necessities..who would wait all year for a pair of shoes that fit or a warm winter coat.

Christmas time is when people buy the "extras"..the fun-stuff or person A spends $20-100 for a gift for person B, who spends about the same, and a few days after Christmas,they each exchange what they received...or person A buys a $25 gift card from Sears and receives a $25 gift card for Applebees.

If a store relies on non-necessary purchases, for SIXTY PERCENT of their annual business, a recessionary time like this makes them a redundant business propped up by loans, wishes & hopes.

[KittyWampus]

1. dolls and toys are "non-necessary" but they fuel the imagination. A pretty scarf

may be "non-necessary" but humans have used such ornamentation since we developed into the doubly wise ones.

There are a lot of crafts people and artists who make "non-necessary" items.

Maybe you should go over to Etsy.com and let them know their items are inappropriate in these recessionary times.

[TBF]

2. The point is not that they are a redundant business -

the point is that people are not spending money because the economy is so bad. Any business hoping that the holiday season is going to make up slowing sales is going to be disappointed and at some point this is going to affect the politicians, one way or another.

[Drunken Irishman]

4. I think the 60% number is overall, not just during this recession.

[SoCalDem]

14. The person being interviewed was asked about "their" business and that was her answer

It could even be higher than that overall.. We get dueling statistics every day, so who knows anymore.. I only know that when I drive by our mall, no matter the day of the week or the time of day, there are always close-in parking places by every entrance.. (I have not set foot in that mall in over 5 years)

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Not so fast...

Christmas is also a time of great deals. I know a lot of people who hold off until the Christmas season to buy their winter clothes for the year.

It makes sense, because the Christmas season really begins in November (the day after Thanksgiving) and that still is technically considered fall, right?

You'd be surprised at how many people wait until Christmas to get a good deal of stuff they've been waiting all year to buy. You know the last time I had a new pair of shoes? Christmas 2008. haha

[SoCalDem]

9. I know.. I used to Christmas shop in January

and would hold our Nov & Dec birthday boys' money until after the holiday so they would get more bang for their buck.

but it was for non-essentials...it was for special things they wanted, but could have easily done without

[Drunken Irishman]

11. It's not just special things, though.

Winter clothes are cheaper now than in the early months (harder to find then, too). I always got my winter coat in late November, early December because of the deals growing up.

You'd be surprised at how many people wait until November to buy their winter stuff because it's cheaper.

[SoCalDem]

12. Not surprised.. I spent 8 years, 1 mile east of Lake Michigan

and bought many "sale" coats..but it was never my ONLY coat..

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Right...

But most people don't just own one coat. They just upgrade. So even if they purchased a coat in May, it might not necessarily be their ONLY coat and thus, under your definition, wouldn't be a necessity.

[SoCalDem]

15. you made my point

:thumbsup:

[NBachers]

5. My experience, in my own businesses & companies I've worked at, is Christmas is busy for all

Somehow Christmas season shopping creates a momentum that affects non-Christmas related businesses, too.

[AnneD]

6. Our Christmas......

will be even smaller than last years. Just the nieces, nephews. I have already bought my daughter something. We will gift some people in need and a few programs in my school and church and that is it. We are giving more to others than our family this year. AGAIN! I hope the merchants aren't counting on us. We will be doing the day without shopping.

Of course we will be stocking up on plenty on ammo and guns for the War on Christmas, It seems to come earlier every year.

[SoCalDem]

10. We have not had a tree since the mid 90's (gave all the trimmings away too)

and quit with the "presents" about 10 years ago too.. My best girlfriend & I exchange gifts, but that's IT.

Our boys are grown & I'd rather they spent their money on their wives (2 of them) and the girlfriend du jour (the other son)

there's nothing we (or they) need or want for, so it's silly to trade gift cards..

I send them each a home-made goodie box with my specialties:

chocolate bread
cranberry oatmeal cookies
choc chip cookies
peanut butter cookies
paper-thin sugar cookies
zucchini bread
pumpkin bread
chex mix
and the only things I do buy for them is a LARGE container of pistachios from Costco...and sometimes a book

This year they are all getting "At Home", by Bill Bryson

[dionysus]

18. that list sounds like an awesome present to me.... (if you minus he zuc bread)

;)

[Cirque du So-What]

7. Lots of people hold off making purchases until stores have their Xmas sales

and it's not all 'discretionary' or 'non-necessary' purchases either. Also, not all these purchases are intended as 'gifts,' unless the people consider them gifts to themselves.

As for your musing over who would wait to buy basic necessities like a pair of shoes or a warm winter coat...let me clue you in on a little thing called poverty: millions of people in this country live in it and plan their lives around it in order to maximize their very limited financial resources.

[ingac70]

8. If I don't get a new coat or new shoes for Christmas...

I buy them at an after Christmas sale.

[catnhatnh]

16. I hate to piss on a parade...

but some full time businesses ARE centered on Christmas...WHO is the merchant and what does he sell??? Locally we have tree farms that are more dependent on seasonal sales on than that and specialty businesses that sell just Christmas items are also...And if that is was I'm looking to purchase, that is where I would go. Many businesses are tied to a season-just check out pool sales in New England in October or hot chocolate sales in New Orleans in August. In many vertical business models sales are tied to seasonal events. Just check with a costume shop and see if this is their happy month...

[awoke_in_2003]

17. Happy Holidays...

the "War of Christmas" starts early this year :hide: