I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and wanted to punch the first person I saw in the face. Do you want to know why? Because that person happened to be an employee. An employee who was putting up some Christmas crafts in the Christmas section that was 5 AISLES BIG. Yes, you heard me correctly. A few days ago – when it was still August – Hobby Lobby started putting their Christmas stuff out. And I almost punched someone in the face because of it. The only reason I didn’t was because I’ve worked retail. I was about 99% positive that the guy stocking the shelves? Did not make the decision to put the Christmas stuff out that early. So punching him in the face would just be mean. And also crazy. If I had seen some sort of manager type saying, “Excuse me, Mr. Employee. You need to put Christmas decorations out because I say so!” I would have punched him in the face.
AUGUST!
I know it’s very cliché to scream about Christmas stuff being out too early…and that it gets earlier and earlier every year…and that soon we’ll see it on the shelves with the Independence Day decorations. But do you know why it’s cliché? Because it’s the truth. Make. It. Stop.
Actually – this year I get LilZ for Christmas – so maybe I’m kinda excited to see the decorations already out. LilZ’s Dad and I trade Holidays every year. Each year one of us gets Christmas and one gets Thanksgiving. This year? I lose out on Thanksgiving but I get Christmas. While we do our best to fake it the other years, it’s obviously much better on the years we celebrate Christmas the real way, and not several days later. However, I’m also dreading it. This is the Christmas without my Dad. The day I’m dreading the most in that calendar of the First Year after he’s died. Last Christmas? He sat in my house. He celebrated BOTH Christmases with us. The real one and LilZ’s day. He helped un-box toys and put in batteries. He took NikkiZ out on her first scooter ride. He and my brother helped me wake up the kids to tell them Santa had come. It was the perfect Christmas to be our last, I guess.
So…DAMN YOU HOBBY LOBBY. The last month I’ve been too distracted with other anxieties in my life, and I’ve actually not been staying awake every night missing Dad every night. Until I saw those damn Christmas Trees up in your store. Now? It’s all I think about. Wondering how it’s possible to feel such extreme emotions: Joyful anticipation and Sorrowful dread, all in regards to Christmas.
I think I’ll just avoid the craft mecca for awhile. I don’t need to risk actually seeing the Vice President of Ruining Christmas, or whomever it was who made the decision to put the red and green on the shelves in August. I most certainly would punch him in the face. And I’m certain that is one of the many things my Dad would NOT want me doing in his honor.
I think.
Hopefully LilZ’s presence at Christmas will help fill some of the sorrow for who’s missing.
AND, I agree, it’s way too early!!
Well Done! well said! you covered it all! too much anxiety!
I saw your comments on line and wanted to reply. Just to let you and your readers know why Hobby Lobby starts setting Christmas in June. In our business model, we begin setting our Christmas and Fall departments on June 1st. This is for many reasons, and we have done this for more than 15 plus years, I am sorry you have never seen this before. The early shipment allows us to meet the needs of our designers and display merchandisers that have to shop early. We also supply many items to our crafting customers who make and sell items at “Craft Shows” during the months of September through December; since we are a ‘craft’ store. They need these items early in order to make what they sell. It also allows us to buy the products at “off-season” production times. This gives us lower costs that allow us to be able to advertise most of the Seasonal categories at 1/2 off during the season.
I am sorry for any anxiety this brings you (that is not our intention) and hope we can serve you in other areas of our stores in the meantime.
Vince Parker
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
Wow, you got an answer from someone from Hobby Lobby! Interesting answer to why it’s out so early, but non craft stores usually have it out just as early too. I agree with you-it’s too early!
I’ll hold him for you
! I hate the long standing trend of moving Christmas up, and up, and up….next thing you know we’ll be shopping for Christmas in January!
Wait – I do believe
lol, that was supposed to end ‘I do believe we already do that – it’s called the after christmas sales!’
I am a typing idiot this morning.
Yeah, the commissary created the Halloween candy aisle in August…. I think they are in cahoots with Weight Watchers. If you buy your candy in August, how many times will you have to buy it to replace what you eat by the time Halloween rolls around? And how many pounds will you have gained so that you need to go on a diet again?
It is way to early. WAY. 108 days away!!! That is a long time!
I hope the season is okay for you when it does get here.
Wow, Hobby Lobby reads your blog!!
Agreed that it IS indeed weird to see Christmas stuff in summertime. I hope your kiddoes’ presence on Christmas Day makes missing your dad that much easier…
Retail is annoying enough, but the people who decorate their houses for Christmas immediately after Halloween? It’s THOSE PEOPLE I really want to punch in the teeth.
Actually, I used to feel that way about people who decorated before December 1st (well, techincally, the 1st week of Advent), but my husband’s family puts their stuff up after the last swallow of Turkey on Thanksgiving, and I’ve accepted that they’re still good people despite it.
You should save your punching for the people buying Christmas stuff in August. As Mr. Hobby Lobby up there (basically) said, if people didn’t buy it so early, they wouldn’t stock it so early. So whenever someone tells you that they’ve finished their Christmas shopping in October, punch ‘em. They are the culprits.
Personally, I refuse to do any Christmas shopping until December 1st. I’m just not in the mood until then. That way I have a few delightful weeks of the Christmas season, and then I can happily move on.
Wow Christmas decor that early is beyond disgusting. I would rage too. I’m glad you have LilZ this Christmas to help make it a little easier on you. I know it’ll be tough but I’m glad you’ll have the kids around to make it easier.
Also, being in Chicago, I can’t imagine being outside like NikkiZ and your dad on Christmas Day. That never happens here!
I was in Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago and I was actually excited to see the Christmas stuff out. Even though I’m not quite ready to shop for it yet, it got me excited about day after Thanksgiving shopping that I do with my mom every year! We found a bunch of cute ornaments and other decorations there last year.
Even though the holidays will be hard for you this year, I’m glad to hear that you can look forward to having LilZ with you on the actual day.
Umm I was in Hobby Lobby the two weeks before this even and they had all of the Christmas stuff out… I sighed.
I also hate how early Christmas stuff is out, but I have to give a pass to Hobby Lobby. It’s a craft store, and people who craft for Christmas need their stuff earlier than people who buy pre-fab decorations. But I do try to avoid the craft stores until sometime in late October.