Can this be September?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

September. Even as Labor Day burgers sizzled on the grill earlier this week, the Christmas push was already underway for some major retailers.
















Though it may seem early to some, major retailers say it's the right time to bring out the Christmas decorations.

Among them:
• Costco. The discounter (COST) has 45 holiday-pegged toys on display and has holiday decorations, lighting and gift-wrap packs for sale at nearly all of its 358 stores, says Richard Galanti, chief financial officer.

"We don't want to be stuck with things the week before Christmas," he says, "so we bring them in early and get them out early."

• T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. The two chains, owned by TJX Cos. (TJX), began selling everything from Christmas stockings to holiday figurines the third week of August, spokeswoman Laura McDowell says.

"It sells," McDowell says. "It has every year. But it seems to be a hot topic this year for some reason."

• Wal-Mart. Since early this month, the retail giant has been selling Christmas decorations and holiday-specific toys in most of its 3,231 domestic stores, says Jolanda Stewart, a spokeswoman. Today, Wal-Mart (WMT) store managers nationwide gather in Houston to polish holiday plans.

• J.C. Penney. While the department store chain (JCP) has no holiday-specific merchandise on the floor, last week it began distributing 8 million copies of its Christmas 2006 Big Gift Book. About 5 million will be mailed and 3 million more handed out at stores.

The book is much thinner this year — down to 336 pages from 440 in 2005. "We took a hard look and focused on items we knew would be attractive," says Tim Lyons, spokesman.

• Toys R Us. Before September ends, the toy giant will issue its annual "Hot Toys" list for the holidays, spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh says. But in the stores, the upcoming holiday being promoted is Halloween. Still, the holiday toy inventory is already coming in, Waugh says. "Any customer who wants to get the shopping done early can."

Perhaps the early holiday hype is not so crazy for retailers who want their share of consumers' holiday spending — about $435 billion last year.

More than 21% of shoppers do some Christmas shopping before the end of September, says a National Retail Federation survey. And though the NRF has not released its official holiday spending projection yet, it says last year's 6.1% spending growth is not likely to be matched this year. Both facts could help explain the recent rush to put out some holiday merchandise.

Still, not everyone thinks Christmas in September is a swell idea. "It creates a disconnect with the consumer," says retailing expert Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group. "The consumer wants to buy now and wear now, but the retailer wants to sell six months in advance."

Dear Santa,

I'm sorry my letter to you is late this year. I thought this letter may be a little early but now I see it's not, and I don't want to be left out this year.



I have been a real good boy, well a good boy, well kinda good, well I been OK, how's that?

As you know, I usually don't send you my Christmas list until at least the day after Thanksgiving.

This year though I have started to panic because I am afraid all the good toys will be gone before Thanksgiving.

It all seemed to start the week before Labor Day.

As I was breezing through Costco I couldn't help but notice all of the bright Christmas displays throughout the store.

Well Santa, I have to tell you I was in shock because I have not put up my Christmas lights on my house yet.

















I wildly ran from the store and began driving all over looking for a Christmas tree.




I ask ya Santa, where does the time go? I just didn't realize we only have 104 shopping days til Christmas!!

I told the wife how close it is to Christmas and she started baking her cookies. You know, the ones you like that we leave out for you on Christmas Eve.

Wow, we got to get the cards addressed and sent out as well!!

I will be smarter next year Santa. I will start on Christmas in July.

Oh, by the way Santa, I have reconsidered and I think have been a really good boy!!!!!!!!!!!!






Now here's a marketing gem!

SpongeBob Coming to Produce Aisle Near You














LOS ANGELES - Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob and the Tasmanian Devil are coming to a produce aisle near you.

The cartoon characters are popping up on fruit and vegetable packaging across the country as growers strike licensing deals with entertainment companies hungry to cultivate positive images among health-conscious parents and kids.

Among the other arrivals to the produce aisle are Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants spinach and Dora the Explorer oranges. There are also Tweety Bird grapes and Tasmanian Devil apples, the result of a deal between Ready Pac Produce Inc. and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros.

Walt Disney Co., with its overwhelming cartoon capital and cultural clout, is the most significant entry in the produce business.

The entertainment giant is licensing characters to Indianapolis-based produce distributor Imagination Farms LLC, which has deals with 15 large growers across the country to provide fruits and vegetables for the Disney Garden brand.

Already available are peaches with Daisy Duck and Goofy stickers, and table grapes packaged in Mickey and Minnie Mouse boxes. Organic apples with Winnie the Pooh - the mascot for Disney Garden organic selections

These days, however, Hollywood sees such links as more than just a source of revenue. Entertainment companies are likely providing the characters to growers at affordable prices as a way to polish their image among parents and young people

"We're doing it predominantly because it is the right thing to do, but secondarily because it is the right business to be in," said Harry Dollman, head of food products licensing for Disney.

Yeah right, I think he has the predominantly and secondarily backwards. It's all about the money!!!

The other day I was in the produce department looking for some healthy food when this 5 year old bites my leg and takes my grapes. Two other kids were fighting over packages of spinach.

There was such a line at the Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli, I thought it was a line for an E ticket ride at Disneyland.

It was so bad I had to leave the produce department and go to the candy section for my healthy snacks!!!!


And that's all I got for Wednesday. See you tomorrow for all the news you can use.