Community Chat

[JeanLouiseFinch]

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.

[Pezzie]

@piperbay   That was precisely my point.

[Suneshine]

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. 

[ByrdieK]

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.

[LindaSal]

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.   

[skatting44]

    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 .

[ZoetheCat]

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!