It’s beginning to look a lot like…way too early to be the holiday season!

This is a true story and even a year later, I wonder if I dreamed it.

Along about the end of last October I walked into a big chain store in Charlotte. The only word to describe what I saw was overwhelming. 

The place was jam packed with tall shelves full of dozens and dozens of boxes of ornaments, trees, stockings, nutcrackers, tableware, wrapping paper.  If it was a decoration, it was there.

Now I am quite accustomed to visual stimulation.  Going into showrooms at market can send anyone into sensory overload. This was even too much for me.

I wandered around for a few minutes, not really knowing what I came for and not really believing this place was real. The shelves were color coded.  Gold décor was grouped together, Silver items and so on with every holiday color there is.

I had to leave. 

I got in the car and asked myself:  How will they ever sell all of it and how long did it take to set it up?

I told everyone I could to go have a look for themselves.  Unbelievable they said.  

But then something even more unbelievable happened.  I went back, not more than 3 weeks later and the shelves were practically bare.  What had been well organized and color coded shelves had become a dumping ground for misfit décor.  Everything was gone. Sold!

This time I was so shocked by the emptiness of the place after what had been capacity plus. So…it wasn’t a dream and I learned a lesson.  Buy your holiday décor early.  Don’t wait!

At another store very close to Traditions, they presently have out Fall, Halloween and Christmas. Seem silly with 80 and 90 degree days and this being dog days of summer?

Not to me.  I witnessed how fast it can sell. My advice:  Get it quick!