Christmas Creep coming to a store near you

Several national retailers, including Home Depot and Sears, will begin setting up their Christmas displays this week, according to an article in the Tampa Tribune. The phenomenon of early Christmas merchandising, known as “Christmas Creep,” is overshadowing Halloween this year, the newspaper reported. 

Home Depot spokesman Craig Fishel told the newspaper that “many stores” will set up their Christmas programs by Sept. 19. Each store will put out the full assortment: ornaments, wreaths, artificial trees, figurines, inflatable yard sculptures and strings of lights. Fresh-cut trees will come later in the season, he said. 

Fishel cited feedback from customers as a reason for the earlier-than-usual launch, which comes three months before the actual holiday.

Sears and Kmart will also start stocking their Christmas merchandise in mid-September, where they will share the seasonal area with Halloween decorations.

Sam's Club put out displays of Christmas lights, wrapping, holiday cards and Harry & David sampler baskets in early September, the article said, and by early October, Sam's Club locations nationwide will display six themed Christmas trees and more holiday food, according to a company spokeswoman.