While many department stores are already filled with holiday cheer, Nordstrom says no to the Christmas creep.
A few weeks ago, I walked into a major department store and saw the beginnings of the holiday season in terms of decorations and displays. The red and green coloring mixed with gold made me a little excited about the upcoming holidays. But it also gave me a sense of dread because I wasn’t ready to confront that time of year yet—why Halloween hadn’t even reared its head yet and here I was already seeing Christmas trees and faux wrapped gifts. I even went on Twitter and voiced my opinion for this particular department store rushing the holidays.
Nordstrom must’ve heard my cries.
According to signs placed in nearly all of their stores, Nordstrom will not be decorating the store for the holidays until the end of November.
Per the sign:
“We won’t be decking our halls until Nov. 25. Why? Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time.”
Department stores call the time leading up to Thanksgiving the “Christmas creep”. Of course, buyers subconsciously begin buying items for the holidays when they see holiday decorations and sales. It’s as if the stores determine what we are to buy and when, not the other way around.
Nordstrom is taking a different approach to the holiday season.
“It’s our tradition that we wait,” said spokesman Colin Johnson. “Our customers seem to understand and appreciate why we take this approach.”
I applaud Nordstrom for sticking to their guns and waiting before decking the halls in their stores. Two days ago, I was in Macy’s and they are fully into the holiday decoration mode with their Believe campaign. And while I like the campaign (especially the letter writing to Santa), October is too early for Santa and his elves.
What are your thoughts? Is Nordstrom being a Scrooge by not following the trend of decorating early?
Sidenote: Nordstrom typically does not decorate its stores before the Thanksgiving holiday, and has not done so for years.
Source: Boston Herald
OMG best thing I’ve read all day! I swear I can’t love Nordstrom any more, they like read my flippin mind! I’ve been seeing Christmas items in Costco since end of September! Really?! SMH
Stand strong, Nordstrom! Ha! I was in a dollar store on Halloween day and they were literally moving all the Halloween candy out of the way to make room for Christmas decorations. I thought that was hilarious.
Cheers Nordstrom. Thanks for being the only store to not stress me out in October about my lack of Christmas shopping!
Comparing them to Costco selling decorations isn’t really fair. Selling decorations and the like before Thanksgiving isn’t completely out of line. Where I go nuts is when an entire store is decorated the day after Halloween.
Thank you, Lord! Finally a retailer with the guts to do what’s right instead of what’s greedy. It’s more Scroogy to greedily rake in the coins than to honor and celebrate the season when it’s the season. People who shop early will do it anyway, so why shove it down our throats in OCTOBER. Sheesh!
I really wish that ALL retailers would follow this policy!! It’s like the Christmas decor and merchandise get put out earlier and earlier every year! For me, it does not persuade me to get into the holiday spirit any faster–in fact, it does the opposite and make me look forward to the season being over. I hope other stores follow suit–Kudos to Nordstrom!!
One more reason why NOT to shop at Nordstroms. I’ve always felt their sales people were too bitchy. No I see that it’s a corporate wide thing.
If you don’t like Christmas stay home. I for one LOVE seeing all the Holiday stuff out early. It really helps get me in the Christmas mood.
>>It really helps get me in the Christmas mood.
And how do you define X-mas mood? What does it mean to YOU?
Um….they aren’t anti-christmas or anything. They simply state that they believe in celebrating One Holiday At A Time. What do YOU have against Thanksgiving??? You can’t wait till Black Friday to get in the christmas mood…a season that lasts all the way to New Years eve? 36 days of xmas isn’t enough??
In this economy, Christmas cheer can go a long way. I’ve been very glad this year to see the holiday things out so early. It cheers me up and makes me look forward to the holidays even more.
I realize retailers are simply encouraging more purchases, but really, it makes Christmas a lot less painful on the pocketbook for consumers if we remember to start shopping early. Holiday decorations do just that. I say the earlier the better. Too bad Nordstrom’s didn’t consider both sides of the story before making such a decision. I know where I won’t be shopping the next few weeks.
>>I know where I won’t be shopping the next few weeks.
Fine with me. You know, the best gift you can give is that one of yourself. Not another sweater. Not another perfume/jewelry you’ll never wear. I don’t like going to a store and having the whole “holiday” spirit showed down my throat. I don’t like being ambushed visually and audibly more than I have to because of companies trying to get my every $$$ as early as possible. I don’t shop very often – when I do, it’s because I HAVE to, not because I WANT to – but if I need a new pair of jeans soon I will go to Nordstrom, no questions asked.
OH THANK YOU NORDSTROM!!!!!! How on earth do we express to this store HOW MUCH WE ARE GRATEFUL for this!?!?!?!?!?!