topic Re: Home Goods in Community Chat

Home Goods

Pezzie — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 02:53:17 GMT

Was out and about shopping and ended up at Home Goods. They were busy! The surprising thing for me was the somewhat lackluster Christmas items on display, because they have already moved on to Valentine's Day.

I had some friends over last evening for a Christmas get together, and it was great. So, today I am feeling festive, getting into the Christmas spirit and Home Goods really spoiled it for me pushing Valentine's Day.

I remember when Christmas items did not go on sale until the day after Christmas, and if it fell on a weekday, too bad for me, as I would be at work. Wrapping paper and Christmas cards would be the first things to go.

Re: Home Goods

Cruzzing — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 02:57:36 GMT

HG has had Xmas decor since mid October! Start earlier next year.

Re: Home Goods

Tori3569 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:01:00 GMT

If they sell through their Christmas merchandise as they have this year, what choice do they have but put out the merchandise they're getting in now. They can't have an empty store.

Re: Home Goods

Pezzie — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:13:30 GMT

@Cruzzing I was not shopping for Christmas, but for a replacement frying pan. Was just surprised by the sight of Valentine merchandise.

Re: Home Goods

rockygems123 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:15:18 GMT

@Pezzie

Home Goods had Christmas merchandise out months ago. I remember buying Halloween in early August.

Re: Home Goods

simplyfriends — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:22:22 GMT

@Pezzie All the stores seemed to put out Christmas decorations early this year. Home Goods is unique in that they only get a certain amount of holiday and when it's gone they don't restock like the big box stores.

Re: Home Goods

piperbay — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:28:53 GMT

I was there during the week and saw the aisle that you enter for checkout was all stocked

for Valentine's day. I agree that the Christmas decorations were lackluster.

Too early for Valentine's, they should wait for the end of Christmas, it kind of takes the

magic of Christmas away.

Re: Home Goods

Tori3569 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:42:22 GMT

@piperbay wrote:
I was there during the week and saw the aisle that you enter for checkout was all stocked
for Valentine's day. I agree that the Christmas decorations were lackluster.
Too early for Valentine's, they should wait for the end of Christmas, it kind of takes the
magic of Christmas away.

Retail doesn't work that way. Can't leave the shelves empty the week before Christmas.

Re: Home Goods

781Florist — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 05:24:36 GMT

Before I retired I would experience a shortness of breath and heart palpitations when the first Valentine's decorations would appear. Now I smile smugly because I know that cupid can't torment me any more!

In 1985 I was in a very serious car accident (hit by a drunk driver!) and was not conscious until Feb 4th. Being the consummate professional florist,I told them I needed to be home by the weekend because it was Valentine's Day. They just smiled. They had me feeling no pain so I didn't realize I was in for the long haul!

One day as I was being rolled down the hall to a procedure I passed a nursing station that was all decorated with hearts and cupids.

My honest reaction was "Well, I'd rather be here than at the shop!"

Re: Home Goods

speedy girl — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 05:53:32 GMT

We just got a Home Goods store in our town a few months ago, so I went in right away to check it out. But there was something about an extremely strong scent in the store, I guess it was all the candles but it was very over powering. So I didn't stay long but it looked like a fun store, but I agree I'm not ready for valentine's yet, lets finish Christmas first!!

Re: Home Goods

JeanLouiseFinch — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 14:06:29 GMT

It may feel like an infringement on your Christmas joy but it makes sense. This close to the 25th, I think it would almost be rare to see much of anything current. I too remember the day after Christmas sales when everything went to half price. It's how I bought our initial assortment of ornaments the year before DH and I married. People decorate way more now than they did back then. More stores, more advertising and ways of advertising, craft and vendor shows, etc. have created a much larger need. Retailers and marketers have done their jobs well. It used to be that people decorated for Christmas only, and now it's for every holiday under the sun so retailers have to get merchandise out and keep it moving. They're always a holiday ahead so the public has had to learn to keep up.

I used to buy my wrapping supplies and cards at the day after Christmas sales too, Nowadays we're wrapping fewer packages so our rolls of paper and ribbon can last for several years until I have to add new.

Re: Home Goods

Pezzie — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:05:28 GMT

@piperbay That was precisely my point.

Re: Home Goods

Suneshine — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:22:30 GMT

I work at one of the sister stores to Home Goods and we have Valentine's Day merchandise of course but we do not have it in the queue line.

Re: Home Goods

ByrdieK — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:29:15 GMT

Home Goods in my city was very well stocked with Christmas a few weeks ago but everything is picked over now. I agree it's early for Valentine's Day...but they are a business and don't want empty shelves. They do put out a lot of linens and regular home goods this time of year. If your looking for sheets and towels this is a good time to shop there.

With most people using artificial trees homes are all well decorated by this time of December. When we had real trees we didn't decorate until later in December. That probably changed stores business model.

Re: Home Goods

LindaSal — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 15:32:36 GMT

I had stopped in a Michael's craft store the other day and they still had lots of Christmas stuff. I only was there for a frame and happily that's all I walked out with, LOL! But I did enjoy seeing all the decor they had. It will all be onsale soon but I don't need anything else, I'm happy with my decorations. Also we stopped in Home Depot (DH needed some kind of tool) and they too still had a lot of Christmas inventory.

Re: Home Goods

skatting44 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 16:16:30 GMT

Have 2 Home Goods stores near me along with TJ Max stores which I have been packed , even on a week day . Been looking for 2 matching outdoor toparies . Found 2 at 2 different locations but not the same heights .

Alot of Christmas items .

Just saw some Valentine items along the checkout lane .

Re: Home Goods

ZoetheCat — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 19:47:01 GMT

I work part time at Home Goods. Several customers have complained about the Valentine's Day decor being out already, but that's the reality of retail. The seasons do start a bit earlier than a few years ago, but that seems to be the case everywhere.

Our store, too, is picked over in terms of Christmas decor, but that is because we have been incredibly busy. We certainly got piles of Christmas merchandise in but it sold pretty quickly. It really is true that you have to buy something when you see it because it likely won't be there when you come back.

I keep reading about the poor economy, but you would never know that based on business at Home Goods. The change I have most noticed is that it's not just weekends anymore. Even during the week there are almost always lines at the checkout. Of course, after Christmas, business will significantly slow down, but by February we'll be gearing up for Easter. People here in New England don't tend to complain about it being too early, because we just want to think about spring!