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Posted on 11/22/2010 2:27:10 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo
For increasing number of retailers this year, no more 'Happy holidays'...
NEW YORK — The War on Christmas may be in its final days.
This season, merry Christmas — not happy holidays or season's greetings — will dominate retailer's marketing messages. There will be Christmas sales and Christmas trees and Christmas carols galore.
That has the American Family Association, arguably one of the loudest voices advocating the use of Christmas in retailer's marketing messages over the past few years, predicting that its crusade could conclude in the next year or two.
Randy Sharp, director-special projects at the AFA, said that in the past five years the group has seen the percentage of retailers recognizing Christmas in their advertising rise from 20 percent to 80 percent. Just eight retailers are left on the group's list of "Companies Against Christmas."
It's also become more challenging to find a large, national retailer to single out for the group's annual boycott. This year, Dick's Sporting Goods, which boasts an online "Holiday Shop," will be the target of the boycott. The AFA is expected to send an Action Alert to its 2.3 million supporters on Friday morning. That alert will urge shoppers to boycott Dick's between now and Dec. 25. It also calls for consumers to e-mail President-Chief Operating Officer Joseph Schmidt and then call Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hennion. The retailer declined to comment. In the past, Target, Sears, Gap and Walmart have been targets.
Advertising Age: Here comes the Christmas creep
"We've had a complete flip," Mr. Sharp says. "The politically correct holiday verbiage is going away. Companies are getting the message."
Indeed, retailers that have found themselves the target of boycotts or media and consumer scrutiny have responded swiftly in recent years. Lowe's "Family Trees" were renamed "Christmas Trees," while Walmart's
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Oh and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing’’ Love that one too!
Amen!
Merry Christmas bttt
Office Max had Merry Christmas signs up in their store.
So, I put up my Yule Tree. (Look in olden carols for the references to Yule Tree, and Yule Log.) It could be a ‘Hannukhah Bush’. So, there is ‘Father Christmas’. Dickens wrote of the Holly King in ‘A Christmas Carol’. There is, ‘Hannukhah Harry’, too. The Winter Solstice, the day the light returns (shortest day of solar year), and to some is the birth of The God, anew for another year.
I have no qualms about what ‘day’ you call it. Just do NOT condemn me for my celebration of the day, for I DO NOT condemn or proselytize to you, for what you make of its importance. It is not my way.
We're older people who have children and grandchildren who receive gifts from us. If retailers want our money, they'll have to show it is appreciated or we'll shop elsewhere. The twenty year old clerk who ignores us or the cashier who is busy chatting on her cellphone or talking with her friends while millions of Americans are jobless who would have been glad for that paycheck doesn't cut it with us.
Thank you. Those are my exact sentiments as well.
merry Christmas -- not happy holidays or season's greetings -- will dominate retailer's marketing messagesI've been thinking about web-marketing an original line of greeting cards which have "Death To Islam" as part of the message inside each one. "Happy Birthday (Death To Islam)" and "Merry Christmas" (and Death To Islam)". Thanks Bad~Rodeo.
I think at least some people are aware that Christmas isn’t Christ’s real Birthday. But honestly celebrating the birth, or the new life symbolically associated with Jesus being born is honestly better than the previous celebration which occurred in the Roman tradition on December 25. Plus, I find it convenient that his entire life isn’t celebrated in just one day, or just one time of year. I think most people forget the important part about what Jesus and his teachings. Sure, it’s not about whether or not it’s his real birthday, which was probably close to the time of Passover, actually, but the important part is the reason Why the day is important that counts. My original point is that if the retailers don’t bring up Christmas in their advertisements, I would not be bothered by it, it is not the same as other matters, this is also the choice of the private organization (the retailers) to do so. Choosing to admit the opposite is fine too, but the real point is that it is a choice of position that I don’t feel matters. You don’t have to agree with me, but that’s just my own opinion.
I think at least some people are aware that Christmas isn’t Christ’s real Birthday. But honestly celebrating the birth, or the new life symbolically associated with Jesus being born is honestly better than the previous celebration which occurred in the Roman tradition on December 25. Plus, I find it convenient that his entire life isn’t celebrated in just one day, or just one time of year. I think most people forget the important part about what Jesus and his teachings. Sure, it’s not about whether or not it’s his real birthday, which was probably close to the time of Passover, actually, but the important part is the reason Why the day is important that counts. My original point is that if the retailers don’t bring up Christmas in their advertisements, I would not be bothered by it, it is not the same as other matters, this is also the choice of the private organization (the retailers) to do so. Choosing to admit the opposite is fine too, but the real point is that it is a choice of position that I don’t feel matters. You don’t have to agree with me, and feel fine to disagree, but that’s just my own opinion.
Or, as we call it in these parts, “Blood-bath and Beyond.” ;-)
This is hilarious. I know what a "family tree" is, but I don't put it in my living room and hang lights on it during Christmas.
I hate catalogs with “Holiday, 2010” on the front.
That did it. You made me laugh twice this morning. You’re in trouble now. Death to Islam.
Thank!!!
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I walked into a Wal-Mart last week and there was a giant MERRY CHRISTMAS sign hanging from the ceiling. It was very pleased to see it.
BTTT and Merry Christmas !!
ROFL! That's a terrific idea! I'd buy a few.
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