Well, technically today is neither but of upcoming events, Halloween is the outright winner.
So, why is it that the mall is telling me otherwise?
I was out shopping over the weekend and, to my surprise (though I wonder why I was surprised since it happens every year), I see Christmas decorations in all the major stores. Christmas trees, lights, ribbons, red, green and everything covered in faux frost.
Why is it that major department stores feel compelled to apply a Christmas decor when Halloween hasn’t even passed yet? Shopping is predominantly dictated by the seasons and the holidays that rule those seasons. But, instead of pumpkins and goblins, I received evergreens and holly.
Though the average shopper’s mind is still focused on preparing themselves (and their kids) for Halloween a week before the big day, malls and shops take a proactive approach at priming you for Christmas two months in advance.
The strategy they enlist is a high-level method to prep your brain — and your wallets — for stressed-out, money-spending, festive bliss! Their goal is profits. Their objective is get you shopping as soon as possible. So, their tactic is to set the tone and the atmosphere to encourage and facilitate that spending.
It’s another form of Marketing — though arguably difficult to pin down — that engages the consumer on the basis of emotion tied to a superficial expression of ‘seasonal joy’.
