It’s only September, but some Gainesville retailers have already started preparing for the holiday season.
At the Kohl’s on 3501 SW Archer Road, there’s an ornate Christmas section near the back of the store. Rows of ornaments, snow globes and smiling Santa Claus figurines are on display. Christmas cards, stockings and fake snow are for sale — right next to Halloween decorations.
Assistant store manager Andrea Kress said retailers transition into holidays earlier than the general public. The Kohl’s display has been up for a week.
“We’re trying to maximize sales,” Kress said.
She said people have shown interest in the items during the last few days. The display will stay up until late December.
At The Oaks Mall, stores’ setups vary. Belk and Macy’s have sections with Christmas merchandise. As of Friday, J.C. Penney had not decorated for Christmas, and a Sears employee said the store was setting up a display that day.
Oaks Mall spokesman William Bivins said each store decides when to decorate for Christmas. The mall will put up its own Christmas display Nov. 10.
Steven Kirn, executive director of UF’s David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research, said retailers set up early to try to extend the holiday season and encourage customers to spend more.
“It’s clearly the biggest-selling season of the year for retailers, and it’s been creeping earlier and earlier each year,” he said.
Shoppers might shop for gifts earlier if Christmas items are on sale, he said.
Kirn said store Christmas displays may appeal to people who buy gifts far in advance, and it could help shoppers realize the holiday season is closer than they had thought.
But 18-year-old psychology sophomore Arline Herrera thinks putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween is excessive.
“My family usually puts Christmas decorations up after Thanksgiving, and I think a lot of people do too,” she said. “I think it’s better to just leave it around that time.”
