Christmas is being celebrated throughout the year by more of us! The Holiday Shopping and Celebrating "Season" also seems to come earlier every year. While some object to these developments, I would argue the reasons, and the positives, of "keeping Christmas" throughout the year.
Many of us find a focus on Christmas--the spiritual / religious dimension as well as the "feel good--positive messages" focus--an important way to build our faith relationships, a great relief from the obstacles in daily life, and a strategy for reminding ourselves of the people we want to become.
We also find holiday themed movies and shows, books, and songs a great escape from the pressures of the world we live in. For an overwhelming number of people ( this blogger included ) --the "economic recovery" is something we read about, but don't personally experience. Financial pressures have mounted for millions of us, and the simple pleasures bring relief from those pressures, if only for a hour or two.
It's interesting to me that this trend toward "holding onto" Christmas seems to have increased in the past decade, as many of us "baby boomers" are reaching our 60's and beyond. Perhaps you feel as I do--that the world has changed so much, and not in a good way, over the course of my lifetime, and many of the holiday / Christmas shows and books bring us back to what seems to be a better and simpler time. Aging also brings with it physical issues and deterioration, an increased experience of pain, of being unable to do the things we used to do. and anything positive in terms of fun brings with those experiences some measure of pain relief.
If only the "messages" of Christmas could become the essence of how we all live year round! In the meantime, a growing number of us share Christmas with each other--and what a wonderful blessing that is!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Christmas Decorations and In-Store Displays
Every year it seems that retailers decorate for Christmas and the Holiday Season a little earlier--which leads to some folks complaining about "pushing" Christmas / the Holidays. For the most part of course, this is "driven" by the "sales" --not so much by a "spiritual" or "feel good" focus.
I LOVE the white lights, the colored lights, the greens, the nutcracker soldiers, everything that is included in a Christmas / Holiday display! From white lights ( my preference ) inside that warm the house year round to lights and light displays outside a home or business--all add warmth and cheer and shout "Welcome" to anyone passing by!
In advising retailers or downtown associations, I recommend white lights all or most of the year --outside especially --but even inside! If your preference is lights of various colors, I'm suggesting they go up the first week or two of November and stay lit through January! Greens and wreaths should be displayed all winter. We want people ( in our homes ) and potential customers feel attracted to coming to our businesses and, hopefully, spending money! The correct lights and greens create an atmosphere that makes people want to spend time at your business!
Indoor Holiday / Christmas lights and decorations---beyond white lights --should be up from early November through January. These displays tend to be "Christmas-y"--and not everyone appreciates those decorations --or celebrate Christmas of course---but that time frame is appropriate with what the bulk of your customers find attractive. At least, that's what I suggest to clients.
As far as the other "complaint" that you hear now and then, selling "Christmas or Holiday" themed items or decorations like wrapping paper, cards, decorations, etc...my advice for retail clients has always been--if your customers choose to purchase items like that anytime of the year--you need to provide those items!
Christmas, as many of you reading this blog right now--hearkens happier emotions than we deal with most days ---at best a sense of spirituality mixed with mystery --at least a sense of pleasant escape from life's concerns and challenges. If lights, decorations, and merchandise to purchase provide that--then why not extend those feelings of welcome and joy!
I LOVE the white lights, the colored lights, the greens, the nutcracker soldiers, everything that is included in a Christmas / Holiday display! From white lights ( my preference ) inside that warm the house year round to lights and light displays outside a home or business--all add warmth and cheer and shout "Welcome" to anyone passing by!
In advising retailers or downtown associations, I recommend white lights all or most of the year --outside especially --but even inside! If your preference is lights of various colors, I'm suggesting they go up the first week or two of November and stay lit through January! Greens and wreaths should be displayed all winter. We want people ( in our homes ) and potential customers feel attracted to coming to our businesses and, hopefully, spending money! The correct lights and greens create an atmosphere that makes people want to spend time at your business!
Indoor Holiday / Christmas lights and decorations---beyond white lights --should be up from early November through January. These displays tend to be "Christmas-y"--and not everyone appreciates those decorations --or celebrate Christmas of course---but that time frame is appropriate with what the bulk of your customers find attractive. At least, that's what I suggest to clients.
As far as the other "complaint" that you hear now and then, selling "Christmas or Holiday" themed items or decorations like wrapping paper, cards, decorations, etc...my advice for retail clients has always been--if your customers choose to purchase items like that anytime of the year--you need to provide those items!
Christmas, as many of you reading this blog right now--hearkens happier emotions than we deal with most days ---at best a sense of spirituality mixed with mystery --at least a sense of pleasant escape from life's concerns and challenges. If lights, decorations, and merchandise to purchase provide that--then why not extend those feelings of welcome and joy!
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