Monday, November 04, 2013

A Holiday Message to Retailers

I saw a Christmas "Holiday" Tree lot almost completely set up on my way to the office this morning.  It got me thinking about the retail-driven nature of the holiday season that we will be innundated with over the next 60 days, or so.  The furvor of the season even spills over to Wall Street, with expectations always lofty, and retailers painsakingly trying to achieve those expectations.  The traditional answer to boosting sales was to emphasize the importance of being first -- we open at 9pm on Thanksgiving for Black Friday, or we have a Pre-Black Friday sale!  But to all those retailers depserately trying to snag extra dollars from the over-fatigued and under-informed consumer, please remember this one constant and unwavering tenant of retail consumerism that creates a huge buzz, lines out the door, and commands a premium in price.....

No matter what, the Club does not open before 10pm.

It's a bold posture, but nothing whets the consumer appetite like anticipation and being told they must wait for what they want.  The Holiday shopping season is ripe for a make-over, and I think this is just the trick.  But delayed gratification in America; is that even possible?

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