It’s July 21st, and Halloween’s already here. At least, it is at Walgreens.
We stopped into Walgreens to pick up some school supply deals, and my husband spotted a surprising display in the candy aisle. Halloween candy.
We stood there in disbelief, looking at Russell Stover brownie Jack-O Lanterns, Snickers pumpkins, Brach’s candy corn and pumpkins, and blood-red 3 Musketeers “MuskeFears” candy bars.
I asked my husband to grab a newspaper so I could photograph this, thinking no one would possibly believe these photos were taken today without date proof. The next photo shows the entire display.
The seasonal creep gets worse every year. Last week at Target, beach bags, lawnchairs, coolers and summer gear were 70% off. I went to Target today, one week later, and the seasonal aisles are now filled with dorm room furniture and bedding. I asked an employee where all of the summer stuff went — it filled four aisles last week. Did it all sell out? “No, we got rid of it — it’s gone.”
Too bad if you need a cooler, lawnchair, or inflatable raft, I guess. July is no longer the time for beach and pool gear. July now brings dorm room decor… and Halloween candy.
Diane says
At Kohl’s yesterday I saw Thanksgiving and Superbowl items in the kitchen section!
Coupon Maven says
That’s just… ridiculous. The whole thing is ridiculous! The Super Bowl? That was just six months ago — it could *almost* be an older-stock clearance item. Almost.
I continue to be amazed at how the seasonal creep gets worse each year. Last year, my son broke a strap on a sandal (in July) and I couldn’t find any sandals in his size — I went to several stores. They were clearanced out, just like all the Target beach and outdoor summer stuff. In Chicagoland, summertime JUST got here, and now — whoops, welcome Halloween!
Someone emailed asking which store — this is the Walgreens on Princeton Drive in Huntley, IL.
Coupon Maven says
Consumer Reports’ blog Consumerist.com has picked up my story too:
Halloween Creep: Yes, Here’s A Full Halloween Candy Display At Walgreens
https://consumerist.com/2015/07/21/yes-heres-a-full-halloween-candy-display-at-walgreens/
Sportnfood says
I was just at Hobby Lobby today and they were putting up their Christmas displays. It took up one of the corners of the store. Artificial trees, decorations and everything! Ugh!
Coupon Maven says
Christmas Creep is even worse than Halloween creep. I think craft stores like Hobby Lobby get a *tiny* pass because people may be looking for craft materials to make Christmas ornaments and what not. Whether they’re doing that in July though, I’m not sure…
Sportnfood says
Fair…….I didn’t notice it while I was in the store, but I think they were also playing Christmas tunes. I couldn’t figure out why I had “Jingle Bells” stuck in my head on my drive home!
Sheryl says
Don’t buy it if it bothers you so much. However, don’t complain in October when you cannot find what you are looking for. And please, no comments; “It’s it the ad”. Work retail for a few years and you will understand. Walgreens are being built with smaller stockrooms, and a door-to-floor concept. Hours are being reduced, there isn’t manpower to sit on this merchandise until you Consumers decide it is the right time for us to merchandise the holiday.
SHEESH!
Magan says
It is going to be like this every year. Honestly people should jump on the early clearance, instead of complaining use it to your advantage. Try to be aware of who clears out early and you can get a good deal. On another note mentioned here if you do not like it do not buy it- businesses look at last years sales when deciding when to push product out to stores… so if any number of people see the halloween candy out now and buy it you can bet it will be back the same time next year (maybe a few weeks earlier). But a fair warning with seasonal merchandise once it is sold out it is gone. Even if it is in an ad if the store you are in is out and then your best bet would be hit another store. As for sending merchandise back early, they have to if they are already receiving the next season- even if there is room to store this stuff in the back most stores won’t because if they can get a credit for it they will- come inventory time they get taxed for every item in the entire store so its in the company’s best interest to get rid of it while they can -some suppliers have a limited time window for taking merchandise back and then the company would be out of luck.
Unless you can get every single person it agree not to buy seasonal merch out of season it is NEVER going to change. Honestly- the Halloween candy has been in some of those stores since the last week of june so this is already old news. It was set at the same time back to school was. They actually were doing talks about this topic on the radio. Seriously, no one really cares that much or there would have been a change already. Face it the people do not run things- Corporations do- and this talkin about it is just feeding them- you’re putting there name out there and drawing attention to it. Now people are going to go to walgreens just to see if it is there and will probably end up buying something while they are there.
Just my opinions and thoughts, please continue ranting about something that is a fact of life and really miniscule in comparison with other topics at the moment.
Adrian says
I hate seeing this stuff because it ruins the spirit of the season – once it’s actually the season, that is. You don’t get that “oh the Halloween decorations are out, it’s Halloween time again!” when they start putting the stuff out in July. Same for Christmas and every other holiday. You’ve already seen the stuff for months, so once the actual holiday season rolls around, it’s just “meh”.
The spirit of the holidays is lost when it becomes so focused on making the most money. I’m not even super fanatical about holidays like some people, but it still saddens me. Consumerism ruins everything.
Claire says
Saw on Reddit that Halloween/fall stuff (crafts, home decor) is on the shelves at Hobby Lobby.
Yes, it’s June 11, folks.
I love it in some ways, makes more excited about the fall and I’m already so over this summer, it can take a hike (but it won’t, because summers are long, hot, and humid here in the South.)
Because I dislike summer, I more hate when it’s not even mid February and summer stuff is hitting the stores. I understand the reasons listed above for it, doesn’t mean I like it. :)