It might not be sweater weather yet, but some local stores are already pulling out the Christmas lights.
“Most of our Christmas stuff came out a couple of weeks ago,” said Nikki Chitwood, an employee at Michaels arts and crafts store.
Chitwood said the store sells Christmas decorations, lights and holiday-themed art supplies to help its customers gear up for store displays and shows at the beginning of the season.
“We try to have it a couple of months before, just to give them time,” she said.
Hobby Lobby has had Christmas merchandise since June, company employee Carol Little said, and has had this timeline for the past 10 years.
Little said the company puts holiday-themed merchandise out early for customers who make crafts for holiday shows and designers who have to be ready to decorate for their clients in the early fall months.
“We can give them sale prices because they buy so early,” she said.
Target on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway has started to put together its holiday displays, and has outdoor decorations and lights in its seasonal section.
Dillard’s and Macy’s department stores say they aren’t selling anything for Christmas yet, but they are busy setting things up behind the scenes.
“Traditionally, all of our stores have their Christmas things out by the end of October,” said Kim Parrish, the merchandise manager at Macy’s. “They’re all working on it in the back now.”
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