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Show Early Christmas Shopping Makes Sense For Everyone "It seems like they start Christmas earlier every year. We don't even get over last year's before this year's starts." Sound familiar? Probably everyone has said, or at least thought that sentiment at one time or another. But whether we like it or not, Christmas is coming and the ; "Christmas Season" won't be long : in getting here. There is no doubt but what the : Christmas season as such gets drawn out. But looking at the overall picture from perhpas another viewpoint might give a little different thought. As an example, when is the biggest rush in the stores? Usually the last two or three days before Christmas. What does that prove? It generally shows that people have thought about Christmas but haven't done anything about it until absolutely forced to. So in defense of the "Christmas Season" starting early, let us point out several important factors: With two or even three months of shopping time available through available merchandise, many people could move their shopping up from three days before to three, months before. This eliminates the mental and physical strain of fighting crowds. By having Christmas merchandise on display the public has a chance to get in on the "cream of the : crop., and avoid the last minute ; disappointments when everything i has been picked over. Even without ready Christmas cash, most merchants have a "Lay- away" service which will enable early shoppers to get what they want and for a small deposit, have their merchandise put away. Thr are but a few of the reasons wh, ily Christmas promotions arc a great help to the public and not just a way for merchants to move more merchandise as they are so often accused of. Another reason for local merchants to get their Christmas wares on the shelves early is to have a competative break with mail order houses. The mail order "Display" of merchandise comes early in the fall when catalogs saturate homes with a full line of Christmas goods. The commercial aspect of Christmas is here to stay, like it or not. While people are still free to choose how they will celebrate, most will end up buying large quantities of merchandise as gifts. And despite the cries of "Christmas starts too early," in the long run, the availibility and displays of Christmas merchandise in full stocks early enough in the season for the public to take advantage of, is a break for the shopper. And as in the past, merchants in this area can still stand up to the competition from anyplace in the state and nation in both quantity, quality and price. So with a combination of shopping early for Christmas and shopping at home, southern Utah folks have a distinct advantage for making the Christmas crush a little easier with a bit of early planning and some action. The merchants have already taken the first step to help. |