I'm a free market guy, but it is clear retailers have gone over the edge when it comes to the "shopping season" and its unveiling to the people. Some would say that this is just a ploy by big retailers to get an extra buck while trying to gain an advantage over the early online shoppers, all this while most Americans have less money to spend while living in a flailing economy.
This year I saw Christmas displays going up mid October at a few local retailers, while big corporate radio stations spin nothing but holiday tunes from Burl Ives to the Ramones. It seems that by November 1st the Santa Claus blitzkrieg is in full force so that by the time Christmas morning arrives, we are just plain sick of the whole thing. The shopping, the lists, the gifts, the exchanging, the cooking, the eating, the cards, the lame radio, even lamer television programming, stupid work parties...all of it.
The real problem here is that the retailers have forgotten who really makes the operations run, and that is the workers on the ground. Not all celebrate the holiday, but many do and in some cases are required to work shifts, some beginning in the afternoon of Thanksgiving day.
I like the idea of Chick Fil A, where they close on Sunday so that all of their workers can have at least one day off to spend with their families. What a revolutionary idea.
Retailers need to get a clue when it comes to the holidays. The span of time between Thanksgiving and New Years is hectic enough. Piling on your workers to spend those holidays working instead of at home with their friends and families is not only short sighted, but inconsiderate of traditions.
Additional reading. Enjoy!
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