Relevant Chews

Casual Thought Friday… you can’t have everything, so why not find the one thing?

This holiday season, the winning retail strategy will be helping people gift their loved ones with something they really want.

Last year it was easy to predict that companies like Ebay and Overstock.com were going to be runaway favorites.  This year people will be looking for a deal, but even more savvy about how to find that special something vs. settling for anything.

The relevance of social media in our lives will be a game changer in the lingering economic aftershock this Christmas.  If you are paying attention to the signals like Facebook’s “How well do you know Me?” and what I’m assuming will come to pass as the Xmas List app for the iPhone, then you know exactly what to get that special someone.

It’s not the gift, it’s the thought that counts.  But why can’t you have both plus the shopping experience?

As I’m searching online or wandering out into the cold this December, don’t pitch me what’s on sale—help me find the one thing I’m looking for… getting it down the chimney is negotiable.

Casual Thought Friday… Merry Whatever, and Happy Next Year.

There seems to be a little something missing from the holiday season this year?  It may be difficult to pin it down exactly, but the season of peace and good will is just a little left of center a week before Dec 25th.

Maybe the Grinch really did steal Christmas?  Maybe David Lee Roth hijacked Chanuka?  Maybe the bad economy was his accomplice?  Maybe it’s because more people are shopping online and avoiding the malls?  Maybe it’s the way people say “Happy Holidays” so not to offend anyone?  Maybe it’s all of the above?

If there was any one reason why we make December the ‘busiest’ month of the year, then it must be to exhaust ourselves before starting a new.  A metaphorical death before the rebirth.  But that’s probably the greatest gift of all… forgiving, forgetting and starting all over.

Scrooge remains a relevant character because he is a man burdened by demons of his past.  Near the end, he realizes that his legacy is worthless without love in his heart and the generosity to share it.  It has nothing to do with money, gifts or religion – and everything to do with sharing happiness.

There will be tough times ahead in 2009, but don’t worry about that today.  Call up an old friend, or reconnect with your family and show them how much you care.  Remember when you were a child, and everything was magical.  And honor your traditions, however you celebrate the season, because it’s important to pass them to the next generation.

All the best to you… and have yourself a warm, safe and happy holidays.

Casual Thought Friday… are we losing interest in the holidays as they morph together?

It was Saturday, October 18 – and there it was in the middle of the main isle of the store. The first Christmas display of the year.  The Halloween candy and costumes had already been pushed to the clearance rack.  It was a little confusing.

When did Christmas marketing cross over to the dark side?  When did the integrity of the other holidays become compromised?  Was it when companies started promoting ‘Christmas in July’ sales?  Or was it the first time you noticed Christmas lights decorating pumpkins and Autumn leaves?

There was definitely a time when one could look forward to December; the music, the lights, and the manic trip to the mall.  It was a time to celebrate and get together with friends, family and co-workers.  But has Christmas marketing’s march forward each year diluted the value?  And are we losing the connection due to over-saturation?

It is no secret that most major retailers look to the season of giving as their busiest time of the year.  They are simply creating early impressions on Americans who love to grossly overspend on boxes, ribbons and bows.  The collateral damage is everything in-between and the emotional build up that comes with the transitional time line of calendar events.  Retailers simply leapfrog turkey day to get people shopping now.

The current economy may exacerbate the problem.  Competition for that spending dollar will be tough this year, and many stores will be advertising earlier and not adding extra help.  This will make it even harder to get any shopping assistance in the stores, and it will cut out the college students (among others looking for work and extra bucks) that find temporary jobs in the months of November and December.

Maybe Tim Burton was on to something with his “Nightmare Before Christmas.”  And maybe we should consider how to recapture the magic?  Otherwise, we will be exhausted by Dec. 25th.  All the preemptive Christmas buildup will wear us down and the holidays will run the risk of becoming irrelevant.