Lowe's Apologizes for 'Family Trees' in Christmas Catalog

CNSNews.com ^ | November 14, 2007 | Randy Hall

[Man50D]

An early skirmish in this year's "War on Christmas" ended on Tuesday when the nationwide home improvement chain Lowe's apologized for referring to Christmas trees in its holiday catalog as "family trees."

"That was a complete error," Maureen Rich, a spokeswoman for Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse - which serves more than 13 million customers a week in its 1,400 stores across the nation - told Cybercast News Service. "Right now, we're extremely disappointed in this breakdown in our own creative process.

"We are apologizing to customers today for any confusion our holiday catalog created," Rich said. She explained that the full-color document is called a holiday catalog "because it encompasses all the holidays from October through January."

Rich's comments came in response to an "Action Alert" sent out earlier in the day by the Mississippi-based American Family Association. The e-mail stated: "In an effort to avoid the use of the term 'Christmas tree,' Lowe's [is] now calling them 'family trees.'"

"In their Holiday 2007 catalog, containing 56 pages of Christmas gifts, Lowe's advertises hundreds of gift items, including scores of 'family trees,'" the message continued. "In fact, the word 'Christmas' only appears two times in the entire holiday catalog."

"Lowe's evidently did not want to offend any non-Christians; therefore, they replaced 'Christmas tree' with 'family tree,'" the AFA e-mail said. "Of course, if Christians are offended, that is evidently OK.

"An online search of Lowe's does reference some 'Christmas' items. In fact, a word search of their Web site gives the exact same number - 174 - of the word 'Christmas' as it does the word 'holiday,'" the missive added.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[mtbopfuyn]

Dear Lowes,

Your backhanded apology is too little, too late. This family will not be buying their Christmas Tree or anything else from your company ever.

Merry Christmas,
Ex Customer

[aroundabout]

They are apologizing simply because they are taking heat. Scumbags. With all the alternatives available I will be doing NO Christmas shopping or any shopping at all through this Holiday season.

[Fester Chugabrew]

. . . we're extremely disappointed in this breakdown in our own creative process.

IOW, we're extremely disappointed in hiring a Berkeley grad to work on our national advertising campaign. I'd like to know who was responsible for choosing those words and puting them into the ads; at least where they went to college. It might explain something.

[mewzilla]

"Right now, we're extremely disappointed in this breakdown in our own creative process.

Snort!

[laotzu]

Nothing for the Hindus?!! Its an outrage!

[TLI]

This family will not be buying their Christmas Tree or anything else from your company ever. Merry Christmas, Ex Customer

Can I have an AMEN!

:-)

[normy]

I would refer to their "apology" which wasn't necessary as Clintonesque.

Lets not forget the "Holiday Tree" at Home Depot either. I actually called my buddy from HD the other day and asked him if he was getting a Holiday tree this year because thats what their selling at HD. We mocked them for a good ten minutes.

[BallyBill]

Oh No. Not The War On Christmas, again.

It ain't even Thanksgiving yet.

[6SJ7]

"Right now, we're extremely disappointed in this breakdown in our own creative process."

I'm so tired of PR spin. Can't one company simply say it straight out? "We really screwed up. Sorry".

[Man50D]

It ain't even Thanksgiving yet.

They're going after Thanksgiving in Seattle.

[jwparkerjr]

You would have to have labored in a shop where ‘diversity’ and PC are of utmost importance to know how easily this would happen. I worked for a major daily newspaper and it was amazing how second nature the drive to please the boss or avoid being ‘counseled’ about your attitude becomes and how it is reflected in your day to day production. I got into the hot seat one day because I remarked to a fellow employee that I had heard the Toys ‘r Us chain had been bought out by a group of African-American investors and they were changing the name to “ We B toyz and sh_t”. I’m sure that letter is still in my file somewhere. I don’t work there anymore.

[MBB1984]

The idea of a “family tree” instead of a Christmas tree is utterly ridiculous.

[normy]

I guess people forget who their target audience is. Who is Lowes selling trees to? Answer, those who celebrate Christmas.

Can't Lowes just say "We went overboard in trying to be politically correct and we apologize. They will be referred to as Christmas trees from now on."

This would be a great time for ACE and Elliotts to start their Christmas campaign "Ace is the place for all your Christmas needs."

[TankerKC]

"Lowe's evidently did not want to offend any non-Christians; therefore, they replaced 'Christmas tree' with 'family tree,'" the AFA e-mail said. "Of course, if Christians are offended, that is evidently OK.

Evidently.

This passes for news. :/

[mathluv]

"We are apologizing to customers today for any confusion our holiday catalog created"

They even screwed up the so-called apology.

[PGalt]

BLowes

[normy]

What a pile Seattle has become. I watched my Hawks on Monday night and the crowd looked like a gay rights parade. Too bad for a once great city.

[mewzilla]

It ain't even Thanksgiving yet.

Ask a retailer what the significance of Thanksgiving is, and you'll most likely be told that it's the day before Black Friday.