Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Desperate in July, Sears Looks to Santa for Bailout

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 15, 2009 10:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sears is taking the “Christmas in July” trope to a whole new level. With June retail sales tumbling, the company is looking for a boost by selling actual Christmas products, Time reports. Soon, 372 Sears stores will roll out displays hawking tree ornaments, stocking stuffers, and other decidedly off-season wares. Online, Kmart and Sears invites customers to “Shop Christmas Lane.”

“Customers told us they wish they had seen some of our merchandise earlier,” said a Sears spokeswoman. “People are buying earlier.” Many analysts think the buzz generated by the unusual move is a reward in and of itself. But others say it sends the wrong message. “It looks more like desperation than inspiration,” said one retail-group exec.

Career Santas are seen on sale in a Kmart store, Dec. 19, 2005, in Norridge, Ill.
"Career" Santas are seen on sale in a Kmart store, Dec. 19, 2005, in Norridge, Ill.   (Getty Images)
Patrons shop in a Sears store in North Olmsted, Ohio, May 29, 2008.
Patrons shop in a Sears store in North Olmsted, Ohio, May 29, 2008.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I think you're going to see a lot of this on the retail front. They're going to be looking for novel strategies to drive competitive advantage, even if they have to rethink the typical calendaring of events. - Pete Blackshaw, brand strategist,
Nielsen Online

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Yourself
Jul 16, 2009 3:29 AM CDT
"you know what they say, Christmas comes earlier every year" ain't that the sad truth. but JULY? just another reason NOT to shop at sears.
freethemall
Jul 15, 2009 8:16 AM CDT
I can remember the time when Thanksgiving was actually celebrated, before we started in on Christmas. Christmas seemed more special when it was not celebrated nearly 6 months out of the year,
wwwonderer
Jul 15, 2009 4:27 AM CDT
Great!!! Now obnoxious Christmas themes will run from July to January. I better start getting ready for the catalogs to start coming. Really? I wonder how the church feels about using the holiday ASSOCIATED with the birth of Christ being used for sales. Hmmmm.

More Newser Stories

Ho-Ho-Hold on a Minute, Xmas in July?

Lousy Retail Sales Will Delay Recovery

Old Days—Good and Bad—Are Back: Noonan

March Retail Sales Show Surprise 1.1% Drop

Amazon Has 'Best Ever' Holiday Season


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne