Posted on 10/19/2022 4:49:15 AM PDT by FarCenter
NEW YORK, NY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The Ghost of Christmas Past haunts U.S. store shelves, sales floors and stockrooms this year.
Retailers were sitting on $548.8 billion of inventory in July, a 21.6% increase from last year, according to U.S. Census data.
With less than 10 weeks to go before Christmas 2022, major retailers including Costco, Kohl's and Express Inc. are peddling holiday sweaters, artificial trees and other decor that had been stuck in transit or packed in warehouses during the supply chain crisis that threw a wrench into Christmas 2021.
While holding on to last year's goods is not ideal for retailers, discounts will be a boon for consumers under pressure from inflation, which hit 8.2% in September.
"This year is going to be a fantastic year to buy a tree," said National Tree Company Chief Executive Officer Chris Butler. "Everybody's going to be trying to get through the inventory that they have to make sure they clean out a little bit before the 2023 season."
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
We are NOT in a recession!
We ARE in a recession, but this article doesn’t really relate to that. The inventory piling up last summer was a function of last year’s supply chain disruptions. A Christmas tree isn’t like a car or a pair of jeans. If your supplier doesn’t deliver it to you until January you aren’t going to put it on the shelf in your store and sell it right away. You’re pretty much forced to carry it until next Christmas.
Hoping to get a deal on a new TV this Christmas!
With less than 10 weeks to go before Christmas 2022, major retailers including Costco, Kohl's and Express Inc. are peddling holiday sweaters, artificial trees and other decor that had been stuck in transit or packed in warehouses during the supply chain crisis that threw a wrench into Christmas 2021.
Nothing says Halloween like a Christmas tree.
Black Friday. I used to go to stores to get the best deals, although some would disappear quickly.
Recession aside, I can attest to entire lines of seasonal items we ordered in August of 2021 for March of 2022 that instead showed up in June of 2022. We lost a season of sales in 2022 and ordered almost no more of the items for March 2023 since we have all the inventory already.
We did not order up for 2022 with any expectations of increased sales; our items were just delivered late.
They make Halloween trees:
https://www.amazon.com/halloween-tree/s?k=halloween+tree
The most common are black, then purple or orange. They make ornaments, lights, skirts, and all the other stuff to go along with it. I have a friend who has an elaborate setup each year.
Consider waiting until mid-January, for Super Bowl sales. I was lusting after a new 65-in OLED, and ended up saving a couple of Benjamins, as well as getting 12-month, interest-free financing and a $100 gift card (new HDMI cable, surge suppressor).
Thanks for the advice. I can wait, and every penny counts these days.
Hang near the ‘hood mall on Black Friday when they stage the annual Loot N Shoot event. Should be able to get a great deal from one of the contestants.
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