Jumping from Trick or Treat to Merry Christmas, stores are putting out Christmas products earlier than ever.
Dan Padgett, associate professor in the department of marketing, said he personally does not have interest in the Christmas products being displayed early.
"I don't think it has the financial impact that they think it would have," Padgett said.
According to Padgett, there are two types of people when it comes to early Christmas products: those who do not see the point, and those who think Christmas is the best time of year.
"Christmas is a prime selling season," Padgett said. "They are just trying to extend their selling season."
Padgett said talking to local store owners makes him believe stores see more sales in Christmas products closer to Thanksgiving.
Sarah Brown, co-owner of Wrapsody, said Christmas is a big season for her store.
"People have asked us for Christmas giftwrap in September," Brown said.
According to Brown, Wrapsody puts out Christmas products in response to customer demand and game day scheduling.
"We have so many [customers] from out of town who are ready to shop our Christmas stuff," Brown said. "We sell thousands of ornaments each year."
Being one of the store's two locations, Brown said the Auburn Wrapsody sees many customers from out of town who want Christmas products to be out when they are in Auburn for a game weekend.
Kasey Benson, sophomore in marketing, works at Wrapsody in downtown Auburn.
"We decorated [for Christmas] at the beginning of October," Benson said.
According to Benson, during the fall, Wrapsody sets up their Christmas decorations and products at the back of the store, leaving the Thanksgiving products at the front.
"We leave the trees at the back," Benson said. "So it transitions to Christmas."
Benson said the store always displays Christmas products early for several reasons.
"I think it just gets people excited for Christmas early," Benson said. "And I think it helps people prepare for Christmas."
From an employee's perspective, Benson said some people get excited about the Christmas products being out so early and some do not.
Alex Davis, senior in marketing, said he thinks stores having Christmas products out early is a good thing.
"The whole point of marketing is to give people what they want, when they want it, where they want it," Davis said.
According to Davis, a store showing products early is the same idea as radio stations playing Christmas music early. He said that whichever radio station plays the Christmas music first is typically the one that an audience listens to the most.
"It is about competition between stores," Davis said. "It's about whoever has it available first."
Davis said stores do not put out early Christmas products without factual data.
"They won't do it unless data shows it is effective," Davis said.
Davis also said that even though stores display products early, the store does not determine a customer's decision whether to buy something.
According to Davis, many customers will buy products that are put out early, consume them and buy the same products again. He said the same thing happens with Halloween and Easter.
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