I’ve noticed this happens every year.
I’ve started seeing articles, blogs and posts, complaining about what some are now referring to as “Christmas Creep”. This is supposed to mean that retailers are rushing the season, starting putting Christmas items out earlier and earlier every year.
I think of it more as a “Grinch Creep”. It’s people who like to complain about Christmas music, lights, presents, etc. And some are just people who like to complain.
I remember working in the receiving department of a large, box bookstore about twenty years ago. In early August, customers would start asking about Christmas books. This was not about books to give as gifts, possibly to someone overseas so it would take a long time to get there. This was about books that were about Christmas – decorating, cooking, etc.
This was also not just one or two customers, but multiple customers asking daily when we would have our Christmas collections out.
I’m sure similar things happen at other retail stores. And while some Grinches like to complain about stores rushing the season, the truth is they’re simply trying to meet their customers’ demand. Seriously, if no one bought this stuff in August or September, would stores continue to give it the shelf space?
I’ve started seeing articles, blogs and posts, complaining about what some are now referring to as “Christmas Creep”. This is supposed to mean that retailers are rushing the season, starting putting Christmas items out earlier and earlier every year.
I think of it more as a “Grinch Creep”. It’s people who like to complain about Christmas music, lights, presents, etc. And some are just people who like to complain.
I remember working in the receiving department of a large, box bookstore about twenty years ago. In early August, customers would start asking about Christmas books. This was not about books to give as gifts, possibly to someone overseas so it would take a long time to get there. This was about books that were about Christmas – decorating, cooking, etc.
This was also not just one or two customers, but multiple customers asking daily when we would have our Christmas collections out.
I’m sure similar things happen at other retail stores. And while some Grinches like to complain about stores rushing the season, the truth is they’re simply trying to meet their customers’ demand. Seriously, if no one bought this stuff in August or September, would stores continue to give it the shelf space?
In fact, I remember when I was in college (and even high school), that one of our local drug store chains always put out the first new batch of Bob’s Candy Canes on September 25. And that would have been back in the early 1980’s.
It’s not just retail.
Remember the musical version of “Scrooge”? Albert Finney starred. It came out in 1970. A few days after Halloween.
Oh, sure, at least that’s November, right?
Elvis Presley’s Christmas album was released on October 15. And that was 1957. People at that time were upset that Elvis would dare perform these sacred songs in his rock and roll style. Irving Berlin himself tried to have the album banned from radio airplay.
No one complained that it was only October. That could be because Frank Sinatra had released a Christmas album a month earlier.
Elvis Presley’s Christmas album was released on October 15. And that was 1957. People at that time were upset that Elvis would dare perform these sacred songs in his rock and roll style. Irving Berlin himself tried to have the album banned from radio airplay.
No one complained that it was only October. That could be because Frank Sinatra had released a Christmas album a month earlier.
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So fifty-five years ago, no one complained that Frank Sinatra was rushing the season when his Christmas album hit store shelves in September. Kind of seems silly to be annoyed at Wal-Mart for promoting their new Layaway deals or Target for having a couple rows of Christmas lights (just past the aisles of Halloween costumes).
As many of you know, I run an online Christmas radio station. My interest in this is obviously not coincidental.
We go live each year on November 1. Truth is, we’re usually on a week or so before that, just to make sure everything is working.
Most of our listeners tune in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of those, most actually listen the two weeks before Christmas.
That said, we do have listeners on November 1. In fact, we’ve grown to the point where we usually have listeners in all fifty states, and in another 20-30 countries, within our first week.
We go live each year on November 1. Truth is, we’re usually on a week or so before that, just to make sure everything is working.
Most of our listeners tune in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of those, most actually listen the two weeks before Christmas.
That said, we do have listeners on November 1. In fact, we’ve grown to the point where we usually have listeners in all fifty states, and in another 20-30 countries, within our first week.
Like the bookstores, Bob’s Candy Canes and even Frank Sinatra, I’m not trying to rush the season. I just love Christmas. And if you aren’t ready for Christmas music the day after Halloween, that’s okay. We’ll be on, ready for you whenever you are.
And unlike some stores, there’s no danger of our running out if you don’t show up early. Just don’t let the Grinch Creeps get you!
Ken
P.S. – The bookstore I worked for no longer exists, so I didn’t see the point in mentioning it. You probably know what a big box bookstore is like, and I doubt my experiences there were so very different from others.
I have no financial interest in the movie “Scrooge”; that was just one particular Christmas movie that I know the release date for. Other holiday movies have certainly been released later in the season, and others have been released before.
The Sounds of Christmas does play songs by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Sometimes, I even listen to them early. I can’t right now, because my daughter borrowed the Sinatra Christmas album a few weeks ago.
I am not aware of any kind of official release schedule for Bob’s Candy Canes. You can find out more about them HERE. They do not pay for any advertising on my station. Nevertheless, they are my personal favorite, which would make them the unpaid Official Candy Cane of the Sounds of Christmas.
And unlike some stores, there’s no danger of our running out if you don’t show up early. Just don’t let the Grinch Creeps get you!
Ken
P.S. – The bookstore I worked for no longer exists, so I didn’t see the point in mentioning it. You probably know what a big box bookstore is like, and I doubt my experiences there were so very different from others.
I have no financial interest in the movie “Scrooge”; that was just one particular Christmas movie that I know the release date for. Other holiday movies have certainly been released later in the season, and others have been released before.
The Sounds of Christmas does play songs by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Sometimes, I even listen to them early. I can’t right now, because my daughter borrowed the Sinatra Christmas album a few weeks ago.
I am not aware of any kind of official release schedule for Bob’s Candy Canes. You can find out more about them HERE. They do not pay for any advertising on my station. Nevertheless, they are my personal favorite, which would make them the unpaid Official Candy Cane of the Sounds of Christmas.
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