So, I've been "working the conference biscuit" all day, as my students once used to say. Stopped on the way home to fill the empty pantry and the friendly neighborhood grocer has an enormous display at the front of the store. It's been up for three weeks at least. Ah, the Halloween candy, you are thinking. Actually, it's one of those 50-ft light-up inflatable yard displays --this one is in the form of a snow globe with Santa and and sledders in it. Pretty incredible, actually, in a beyond-tacky- but- the- kids- love- it kinduva way.
I would like to know if jumping the gun so utterly actually boosts sales in any way? I would think it might actually have the effect of suppressing Christmas spirit, wouldn't you? I mean, come November that thing might make me smile, but at present it stirs up an annoyance that borders on outright resentment. And so with the Halloween candy that went up in August and the back-to-school sale that started at the end of June (I cite these examples without exaggeration). At what point does getting the jump on the season bring a diminishing return?
