Today is Christmas eve, Dec 24th... Folks have been posting "What did you get for Christmas?" threads now since yesterday. With the exception of a few members from New Zealand and the other side of the globe Christmas day hasn't happened yet!

Has the whole idea of the day dwindled away to the point that nobody waits until after midnight mass or until the the morning of Dec 25th? Does this have anythig to do with the stores putting out Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving? Is it a sign that the holiday has erroded even further away from it's true meaning?

I guess in keeping with the times I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year now and ask are you hung over? And what's your resolution? :D

Just an observation... If you already celebrated, I hope you got what you asked for. :beers:

i got 18'' wheels and tires.

My family exchanges gifts on Christmas eve.Santa brings the gifts to the children that night for Christmas morning.

I see where you're coming from Dennis.

In my case, we celebrate 4 Christmas's:
- Starting yesterday.... her folks.
- Tonight.... the family I have still living in NY.
- Tomorrow (25th).... we celebrate just the three of us in the morning, then to the giant gathering of her entire family.
- Then Tuesday.... our best friends.

It's not just a one day deal anymore.

Dennis like Joe said a lot of families have a lot of commitments and have to spread out their visits starting the weekend before. We're not in that bunch, but we do celebrate Christmas eve at her folks, christmas day at my mothers and we'll either open our gifts to our selves Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. With both kids grown and college age it isn't a big deal like it was when they were small.

I understand why it bugs you though. What bugs me more is the Christmas stuff began coming out in stores just after labor day. I blame the greed of the retailers for a lot of problems. It isn't just Christmas. Back to school sales begin 2 weeks after school gets out. My wife went to buy a new bathing suit the second week of July and was told it's a season item and was already put away to make room for the Fall collection! Swim suits are out in February in Michigan, when there is still 2 1/2 months of snow on the ground remaining. Retailers are so greedy that they no longer serve the needs of their customers.

Dennis is correct.... Its seems today the 24th and 25th are treated the same...I guess nowadays with all the split families, for example, kids celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve with Dad and on Christmas with Mom....and it switches every year... As mentioned above, with In-laws it works the same way...I guess it can't be helped... Oh yeah, let me be the first to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day!!...:wacko:

Has the whole idea of the day dwindled away Does this have anythig to do with the stores putting out Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving? Is it a sign that the holiday has erroded even further away from it's true meaning?


Yes, and its a shame. K-Mart had their Christmas merchandise on the shelves the first week of September and as of today, Wal-Mart is already stocking the shelves with Valentines Day merchandise. GEEZ!!!!
PS: You guys type too fast for me!!!!

and as of today, Wal-Mart is already stocking the shelves with Valentines Day merchandise. GEEZ!!!!

You went to Wal Mart today? I cant think of anything that I could not have done without.

OK - I buy a lot of what's been said, when I lived near inlaws and parents we made the rounds and ended the festivities in the evening of Christmas day when we got to rest. Thing was all the time I was driving between point A and B, I didn't have the time to call a buddy and ask what he got or share what I got. One I was too busy but the other I was afraid to hear about opening the presents early. My memories of Christmas as a young child were Santa brought the Tree and presents after we went to bed Christmas Eve and in the morning it was extra special to see the tree and the gifts. As we got older the tree came earlier but only a few days, week at the most. I think those memories are in-grained and foster some of my questions...

Thanks for the replies, Merry Christmas all it's not dark out yet but I think there is a raindeer in my yard! Nope just the neighbors 200lb mutt, I bet he's leaving me a Yule Log! :D

"...I blame the greed of the retailers for a lot of problems...."

Ummm... not trying to pick a fight, but I beg to differ. I have been in retail for over 23 years. I pose this question to you:

Has retail altered the buying habits of comsumers, or has society changed the course of business and commerce?

If you look at the history of the free market, specifically in the United States, you will see an evolution of change. Without going into boring details, the most marked change of events came after the end of WW II. The post-war era brought about a yearning for the "good life" --- "a chicken in every pot" ( and a "car in every garage" ) finally began to have a ring of belief. The advancement of technology -- all the new gadgets and gizmo's --- caused a craving in society for new and better things. People wanted things, and manufacturer's were there to meet the demand. If you didn't stay one step in front of the competition you just disappeared into the woodwork.

Fast forward into the 21st century - "New" models (cars, fashion, durables - pick your poison) arrive 6 to 12 months in advance, factories change assembly lines, new software is developed for production, yada, yada. Those that stay in the game do so because they are not oputpaced by their rivals. It's the chicken and egg syndrome... which came first, supply or demand? Arguments can be made on both sides. It is a matter of which side of the "Invisible Hand" of the economic arguement you want to be on. For me, being the greedy, capitalist, Republican pig that I am, I choose to believe that society has been the driving force behind the demand, rather than the machine of industry. I guess that's how I sleep at night :)

All kidding aside, I see your point. However I don't think all the blame can be placed on businesses.. the onus lies at least as much in the lap of consumer demand as it does with the greed of retailers.

Again, not trying to pick a fight. Just thought I'd put in my $.02 to assuage my own guilt (LOL... I have none :) ) and defend the rest of the retailers around here.

Happy Easter everyone !

I bought myself for Christmas a 57 " DLP with surround sound. I guess I should turn it off until tomorrow....

For us here, either the 23rd, 24th, or 25th is close enough. Gifts are exchanged and opened each day.

The family is rarely in here in the same town during those days.

I agree Dennis. I do Christmas with the wife's Family every Christmas Day and we may open 1 gift to each other the night before but that's it.
Hey Steve I'm not saying retailers are solely to blame because people do buy, but I do blame retailers for starting earlier and earlier every year in the name of greed by trying to get a jump on the nest guy. Here Wal-Mart started putting out some of there Christmas stuff just after Labor day. ( by just after I mean the week of):sad: Now although I didn't see any one ever walk out of the store with stuff before November it is possible there was a mad rush for Christmas decorations before the kids get there Halloween costumes.:clonk:


PS- In keeping with the theme of this thread and in order to stay ahead of everyone. I hope you all have a good time with friends and family this Memorial day.http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c87/HarleyD67/Smilies/grill.gif
And may you have an enjoyable summer vacation.http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c87/HarleyD67/Smilies/Woohoo.gif

I don't mean to offend any one with my post, but it just seems like every year people care more and more about what "they" get and who has the biggest lighting display than the true meaning of Christmas. Christ's birth not Santa Clause. For me it's more about spending time with the friends and family than the gifts. I mean if I want something I'll just buy it, and if I can't afford it than I save up and get it later. Now days it's gimme, gimme, gimme, and "oh I hope so and so isn't there this year I can't stand this or that" To me just be happy your with friends or family. If you've spent any time alone you quickly realize how precious they are. (annoying quirks and all)
Well I guess I need to get off my soap box now.
:waving:Merry Christmas every one.:waving:

well the only rason i did a thread like that was because i opend my presents at my dads today the 24th because my parents are divorced so we open them at my dads on the morning of the 24th and at my moms on the morning of the 25th! and im 14 almost 15 so i dont really belive in a big fat guy going down ghimneys that are 1ft witde in most cases!- just my opinion i dont mined going and seeing him at the mall with my 2year old nephew and my 1year old neice!

so i dont really belive in a big fat guy going down ghimneys that are 1ft witde in most cases!- just my opinion i dont mined going and seeing him at the mall with my 2year old nephew and my 1year old neice!

Nick - don't ever loose sight of the belief your nephew and neice have at their young age. Sure you know reality but a little fantasy is cool too. It's easy to blow it off as you get a bit older, I know I did... Funny though, when my daughter came along and she had her 1st real Christmas it made me a born again believer in Santa... Sure I know what is real but you know, seeing things from the perspective of a child is pure magic and not like anything else in this world. I pray you put about 10 more years under your belt before having kids but when you do remember reading this and how it feels watching your own kids rip into the packages.

You went to Wal Mart today? I cant think of anything that I could not have done without.
Yep! All for some AA batteries and wrapping paper. What was I thinking!! It was like a circus in there. :D

Today is Christmas eve, Dec 24th... Folks have been posting "What did you get for Christmas?" threads now since yesterday. With the exception of a few members from New Zealand and the other side of the globe Christmas day hasn't happened yet!

Has the whole idea of the day dwindled away to the point that nobody waits until after midnight mass or until the the morning of Dec 25th? Does this have anythig to do with the stores putting out Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving? Is it a sign that the holiday has erroded even further away from it's true meaning?

I guess in keeping with the times I'll wish everyone a Happy New Year now and ask are you hung over? And what's your resolution? :D

Just an observation... If you already celebrated, I hope you got what you asked for. :beers:

I was wondering the same thing.

...Hey Steve I'm not saying retailers are solely to blame because people do buy, but I do blame retailers for starting earlier and earlier every year in the name of greed by trying to get a jump on the nest guy. PS- In keeping with the theme of this thread and in order to stay ahead of everyone. I hope you all have a good time with friends and family this Memorial day.http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c87/HarleyD67/Smilies/grill.gif
And may you have an enjoyable summer vacation.http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c87/HarleyD67/Smilies/Woohoo.gif

I don't mean to offend any one with my post, but it just seems like every year people care more and more about what "they" get and who has the biggest lighting display than the true meaning of Christmas. Christ's birth not Santa Clause. ...

Harley,

No offense was taken, and I happen to agree with most of what you say. I just wanted to give an opinion from the other side, that's all. I agree that commercialism has taken over the meaning of Christmas, and that greed can sometimes overshadow good intent. I know that I go out of my way to please customers... sometimes to no avail. But, in my experience, I have seen that consumers play as much of a role in the degradation of society as it pertains to commercialism as business does. I see it EVERY day in my store. I attribute it to human nature.

The meaning of Christmas has been somewhat lost in American culture, to be sure. Every year we (society) become more calloused to the true nature of the celebration, and every year those of us who want to stay clear of the frey still get caught up in it.. at least I do.

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a joyous holiday season.

.....And what's your resolution? :D

My resolutions are as follows:


To not buy more Camaros than I did in 2006 --- on a per month quota, that is :D --- this means I can buy 4, since I only started in April
To get the SS running, driving and, at least, partially restored --- interior, etc.
To ocmpletely re-do my Policy & Procedure Manual for my business.
Never mind - the list is so big I can't bear to write it. Let's just say that I have a lot to do in 2007

Denis makes a Damn good piont...I agree fully...
Today is Christmas eve, Dec 24th... Folks have been posting "What did you get for Christmas?" threads now since yesterday. With the exception of a few members from New Zealand and the other side of the globe Christmas day hasn't happened yet!

Has the whole idea of the day dwindled away to the point that nobody waits until after midnight mass or until the the morning of Dec 25th? Does this have anythig to do with the stores putting out Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving? Is it a sign that the holiday has erroded even further away from it's true meaning?
Towns here (NZ ) have a Christmas parade...used to be within Dec...Now they compete and early Nov to 1st week Dec is the norm...Bloody stupid..
Who is the main 'driving force behind the parades...the local Bussiness Associations...

And early retail sales...geeze Oct!!!!

But the time Christmas comes along, we are sick of the juck mail and theme wears thin...

In our home,
12 days before Christmas, all the children come home with their families and the tree goes up, around this time Cards are sent out.
Week before Christmas the presents start to accumilate under the tree

Christmas Eve the Christmas wishes are given, and a Family dinner, usually with a few guests who dont have family or or family is away..Some of the family will send the evening at their in laws

Christmas day, Breakfast, with some of the family at inlaws, open presents, and Guests who are away from their families are present to
Midday is the Big Family dinner, At my in laws (xmas is easy for me as I have not have a family since a teenager.. all dead) Here all the wifes family and their families and any guests go...Remenber it is summer here. Afternoon playing games, fooling around with the neices/ nephews, cricket.

Boxing day is for immediate family, head out to the beach or go fishing in the boat...

Has retail altered the buying habits of comsumers, or has society changed the course of business and commerce?.....
If you look at the history of the free market, ........ .If you didn't stay one step in front of the competition you just disappeared into the woodwork.

Yep that somes it up...Christmas as far as bussinees goes has nothing to do with the Spirit of giving at Christmas....it is all about dollars and profit...and who makes these calls ppl...the same ppl who are the pillars of society, spout off about moraity...and full of hypocritacal BS
DW this is NOT pionted at u, nor does it critise U or what u say, u are right...
Its the deskjockey bean counters at the top of the big companies who make the trends all for the $.
Sure they 'justify' well there is a demand...lets face it, marketing these days is Intially Creating a demand, and done with subversive psychology by employing psychologists to do just this....u have to own a ipod a cell phone etc
I note here I work in IT, I dont have a cell phone and dont know how to work one, nether do I have a ipod in the house, and dont know exactly what they do...other than nearly running a person over the other day cause completely unaware of what was going on around them.

Im rambling...I was infolved in marketing a few yrs back of a large multi national...gess what I learnt...who was illustrated as one of the great marketers of the 20th Century? Gobbels, and what did he market? Hitler and his policies......Supply and demand? I dont think so...manipulation of the market...yes.

We always do "christmas" at the inlaws christmas eve, christmas at our house the morning of the 25th, and then christmas at my parents house around noon
I'll be the first to admit that I am probably one of the biggest scrooges out there. The people, the crowds, the traffic, the same freaking music over and over and over, etc etc, and the fact that all of this starts earlier and earlier each year has really turned me off on pretty much every holiday anymore. That, and the fact that it only seems to be about MONEY. Seeing people literally get into fist fights over the last "tickle me elmo" makes me want to knock their heads together. Or better yet, seeing all the people who went out and bought every playstation 3 or nintendo wii or whatever it was that drove everybody crazy, and not being able to sell them on e-bay so they line the parking lot of every major store in town with big signs trying to sell this stuff for ridiculous prices. I could go on and on ;) Christmas did NOT used to be like this!!
If it wasn't for the kids I wouldn't "play" at all anymore. I'm perfectly fine with a family get together and a big christmas dinner and exchanging gifts amongst your own household. Unfortunately, nobody else seems to be.

Always a good read to put things in perspective, enjoy...

Is There A Santa Claus?

Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in The Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon,
115 West 95th Street,
New York City



Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias'. There would be no childlike faith, then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fill the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, cold tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view - and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897

There is definitely a Santa. I know because my 15 year old son hugged me and his mom after opening the Wii that she moved heaven and earth to find for him.

24th, 25th, 1st, whatever. It's just a date. The DATE is nothing to get at all worked up about.

If you get worked up about the date itself, sit down and read about the origins of why we celebrate on the 25th, and not closer to what would be an accepted date of Jesus' birth.

To me Christmas is about family, and we've always opened gifts on the 24th. No big deal, the gifts aren't the important part of the celebration. It's spending time with each other, stopping our hectic lives for a while and listening, thinking about those less fortunate, and those who can no longer be with us.

If we wanted to be commercial about it, we'd give gifts on January 25th, after all of the stores have restocked, the rush is over and all of the post-holidays sales are on.

Don't judge because someone celebrated on a different date, the meaning is the same, it's just on a different schedule. To me, December 25th will always be the day after Christmas.

Santa Exists....I know so because I have seen him

As a child aboiut 9 yrs my brother and I shared a bedroom, this particular Christmas Eve we decided to stay awake and catch him in the act...
We heard something outside!!!, the widow started to open!! and 2 young bots disappeared down to the bottom of the bed...
Then a deep voice " This is Santa, I know you boys are not asleep"
I , in great teeror, came out from under the blankets, crawed down to the end of the bed where the window was, and peeked thru the curtains...There a big round face and a white beard, and red could be made out in the darkness.
"Im going to develer presents to the rest of the neighbour hood and will return"
"you must be alseep, as your parents have told you to do"
By this time my brother was beside me looking out the window, Mum and Dad where then stanging at our bed room door...
With a "I will be back shortly" Santa picked a big sack, and it clanked, then wandered off in the direction of the gate to the neighbours...
I dont remeber any more....2 young boys went to sleep very smartly!!!

None of the kids in the neighbourhood ever believed us...very upsetting...
Dad explained that there are things in life that happen, and sometimes it pays to just keep them to yourselves...bragging only makes things worse.

Several yrs after my parents died, as a teenager, I was talking to my Grandmother about this....
At the time we had a boarder, who lived in a caravan in the backyard, Pat D....I remebered him...Using a roll of cotton wool, a red coat my mother had, and a few other props, Pat was Santa....
Santa may not be real, but his existance is not dependant on not being real, but on the concept of giving, without expections of recieving...
Everyone in our home still gets a Santa stocking, filled with a few noveltee toys, a bannana and an orange...

When our daughter was young, chatting to her before sleep time as one does as a parent..She asked "why doesnt God talk to her?" Imediatly I knew she would talk ask God something and she felt he didnt answer...something I always didnt understand as a kid...
Thinking quick, as parents have to do every so often...I explained it like this
God always talks back to u, not at prayer time but every moment of the day.."
"How do u feel when u do something not quite nice? an little yuck?"
"And when u do something nice for someone and they smile? feel warm inside?"
Everyone, inside has God, and he talks and giudes u by making feel warm, or yuck, that is God talking in your heart"
"follow your heart in life and you and those around you will have a good and happy life, no matter how good or bad things maybe at the time"

Like God... Santa, fairies, easter bunny all exist, if you believe in your heart

The only gifts my children open before the 25th is their pajama's. We drive around as a family and look at the lights, then come home and usually watch a movie together. We make a chili-cheese dip that we eat together and then go to bed. We get up in the morning and open our presents, taking as much time as we can and enjoy the day together. :D

Dreamweaver no offense taken, hope I haven't offended anyone in retail. I do think though that you are correct in the fact that there is always those who are looking to buy things early, like swim suits in February in Michigan (probably more for those spring break vacations that are just around the corner, than for the actual swim season in Michigan). Those consumer types will cause the giant retailers to put out their next seasons products early in hopes of gaining a bigger share of the market with early sales. Other smaller retailer are forced to follow suit or miss out on moving their merchandise. It just sort of snowballs and gets out of control. And it's to satisfy what I feel is the minority of the consumers who want to buy things well before it's practical.

I work in aviation. What if in order to get a jump on the competition we decided that we were going to discontinue our flights to southern destinations beginning in February right smack in the middle of spring break flying and start flying only to northern Canadien cities because it would be warm in their in 3 or 4 months time and did this to get a jump on our competition? See how insane it is?


I know there's been a number of items I've wanted to buy here in Michigan that I'm told are seasonal and can't be had in the middle of that season. I wanted some additional bags of landscape rock the second week of September. No one had these. They were all put away in August because they are "seasonal". Fall is a huge landscaping time here in Michigan. It's actually easier growing grass and planting in September and October than in the spring. But the big retailers put all that stuff into storage come the passing of Labor Day weekend. This doesn't serve the customers well. The large retailers do not offer their products during the season, only before the season. Unfortunately many of the smaller shops follow this trend, it's not their fault, they have to to keep up. I again offer the swim suit purchase my wife tried to make in mid-July. All the big stores and most of the smaller ones had put them away for the year. The fall collections were out, boots, coats, ect. It was 90 degrees outside and the lakes in Michigan had only been warm enough to swim in for two weeks, how can a swim suit be out of season 2 weeks into the swimming season?

It's kind of like gas stations selling mulch. When did this start? I fail to see the connection here. But it's common to see gas stations in my town with huge palletized displays of mulch for sale. I suppose one had some sucess so the the others all jumped on thinking they were missing something? Strange product to expand into. I can undersatnd a spinoff of another oil product, but mulch?

You can argue if it's greed or not, but I don't see any other motivation for removing products early in the season to get a jump on the competition for the next season. Problem is you aren't serving your customers well when you put away product mid-season. I think the retailers have forgotten this or choose not to care. I've also been told recently that paneling is seasonal and not available through the winter months. I wanted to buy a shed for the back yard but guess what? Yep Lowes and Home Depot both put there's away in October because they're seasonal. We've had good weather even today where a shed could have been constructed had you choosen to, but you can't buy one until spring. Try buying a snow shovel in early March when you've broken yours, you can't do it. You also have the potential for large snow fall until the middle of May, that's two more months you may need one, but the shovels are "out of season" come March.


What ever is driving the retailers decision they are poor decisions, customer driven or not. It it's customer driven you have to ask is it the majority of customers who are driving this or not. You also have to wonder it it's real or perceived that customers want items 3 or 4 months before they can be used.

This is an interesting debate. I enjoy the mental gymnastics. Allow me to continue the "devil's advocate" position:

First, public companies - The long and short of it, they are beholden to the shareholders. If they are profitable, the shareholders make money. If their competitor makes more money, the shareholders sell the stock and go with the more profitable ones. who are the shareholders? You and me. We have jobs, and we have retirement funds. Those portfolio's a re spread out all over the planet. We have a certain amount of control but, in the end, the portfolio managers determine how to diversify the money. Of course there will be those who say, "I control all my own investments so I have total control where my money goes". More power to you, but that is not the majority.

Next there are privately held companies, and mom & pop shops... I;m in the momo & pop category. I fully understand what you mean by "customer service". We have conversations DAILY about how to improve how we take care of our customers. Without it we would die on the vine. But, here's another fact... and I say FACT because I have a Master's Degree in the "School of Hard Knocks".... I live this every day: Consumer's, for the most part, are no longer loyal. Society has changed and, with it, the buying habits of the public at large.

I have been in business for over 20 years - in the same location, under the same name, same ownership, same products, etc. I have bent over backwards for every one of my customers since day one. I spend money I shouldn't spend, do things I don't "have" to do, and give in to uncalled for customer demands all the time. I can tell you without any reservations that this has grown exponentially --- let's say by a factor of 10 --- in the last 5 years. People don't want to listen to "reason" - they just want what they want when they want it and, if you can't give it to them, they will just go somewhere else. Not only that, they expect you to provide ultimate service (which we do) AND match or beat the price of the Big Box store down the street. It simply can't happen, at least not in my world. How can I have a trained staff, one who is an expert in all the products that we sell, and pay them Wal Mart wages? Nothing wrong with Wal Mart... in this example it's the expectations of the consumer that are unrealistic. I have seen my customer, one that I have bent over backwards to take care of, come into my store, take up 20 - 30 minutes of my highly skilled and trained "clerk's" time, use our software and machine to have their water tested, and walk out without making a purchase. Then, a day later, I see them in the grocery store down the street buying chemicals at the grocery store for their spa. Sound far fetched? ..... True Story.....

I have to operate my business on "earns and turns" - as cruel and base as it sounds, I have no choice. I have to calculate GMROI (Gross Margin Return On Investment) to determine if a product is:

Stale on the sales floor
Worthy of valuable real estate on my showroom floor
Losing it's GMROI value and, if necessary, replace it with something more profitable.I know it sounds harsh, but look at it from this perspective: If I really believe that I provide the absolute best service possible to customers who are shopping for the products I carry it would be a disservice to them if I went out of business. Yes, going out of business is a real possibility, especially in this day and age. Just this year I lost 2 local competitors... they just packed their bags and closed down. It was a tough year. I felt like I was in a dog fight for the last 12 months, pulled out all the stops, and still my business was down 30%.

My expenses didn't go down
I didn't lay anybody off (never have in my company's history)
Worker's comp and helth benefits (I pay 100%) were off the charts
etc.So, guess who took it in the shorts? Me. And, if I had not saved my pennies and taken steps to maximize profitability over the last 20 years, I would have lost my business. We went from 3.2 million to 2.4 million in the span of 12 months. I'm not looking for sympathy, but understanding.

I know that none of the posts were directed at me, and I appreciate that. And I am not lashing out at anyone here either. I am only trying to shed some light from my side of the mountain so that the next time a business, large or small, does something that has an appearance of calliousness or motivation of pure greed you might take a closer look as to why the business decision might have been made. I'm not defending anyone out there. Do I thin that taking swimsuits out of the store 2 weeks into the heat of the season is a stupid idea? Of course. Would I do it? Probably not. But I'm not in their shoes so I have no idea what the rationale is behind it. If it is truly that big of a demand and there is no supply, let's open up a swimsuit store together. But, if we do, I get to be the one who goes to the buyer's mart every winter in New York and see the latest and greatest in fall fashions :)

Sorry fo rthe long rant, but I've patiently watched and contemplated the previous posts without speaking forth, and I felt it was time to give a different take. Hope I didn't ruffle any feathers, but a healthy debate helps to keep from developing rickets of the mind.

Cheers

Was I supposed to read all of that :confused:




:D

Was I supposed to read all of that...

Only if you expect timely payment on my long-overdue bill :D

I know it was long-winded, but I promise I won't post in this thread again



















































tonight :hurray:

That is a very good explanation...
Espec the latter part of the small private family business..
If they they had their way most would be doing, what has always been done..
BUT

First, public companies - The long and short of it, they are beholden to the shareholders. If they are profitable, the shareholders make money. If their competitor makes more money, the shareholders sell the stock and go with the more profitable ones. who are the shareholders? You and me. We have jobs, and we have retirement funds. Those portfolio's a re spread out all over the planet. We have a certain amount of control but, in the end, the portfolio managers determine how to diversify the money.

There is also what is called "social responsablity" something that was orginally capitioned by these same Big boys...

Lets look at Guy fawks in NZ...fireworks night, each yr there are idoits who do stupid things and houses burn down, so Government resirtict the type yrs ago, then the time allowed to sell restricted to 5 days before...In nov more houses burnt down now legistarion is before pariliment to restrict more types and down to 3 days
Why does the Gov have to step in?
Because it was the big boys selling early, the little guys where forced to follow suit...So much for big bussiness Social responsablity
So why Guy fawkes and not Christmas? Because Houses are more important than ppl...

At the end of the day it is all motivated by greed /money.

I look at life like this.
If we burnt all the money in the world, ppl would still populate the earth
If we burnt all the ppl, the money would eventally rot and corrode away, and both would be no longer
So the basic question is what is more important ppl or the money?

DW u are wrong about this debate...its not a debate, a debate argues both sides...we all agree ...Christmas is to early

[quote=DjD;690786]Today is Christmas eve, Dec 24th... Folks have been posting "What did you get for Christmas?" threads now since yesterday. With the exception of a few members from New Zealand and the other side of the globe Christmas day hasn't happened yet!

Dennis , as one of the original 2 or 3 offenders I formally apologize :rolleyes:

Dreamweaver has got it right as far as some of the demands of the retail marketplace.

24 years in the same small business here. Much truth there. Read it, and appreciate. Very few who have punched a clock, or worked for government can even relate to a small part of it.

[quote=DjD;690786]Today is Christmas eve, Dec 24th... Folks have been posting "What did you get for Christmas?" threads now since yesterday. With the exception of a few members from New Zealand and the other side of the globe Christmas day hasn't happened yet!

Dennis , as one of the original 2 or 3 offenders I formally apologize :rolleyes:

Too bad it's getting so folks can't share an observation without offending someone, Sorry I offended you Jerry...

Too bad it's getting so folks can't share an observation without offending someone, Sorry I offended you Jerry...[/quote]

guess I read you wrong Dennis , my mistake.

Lighten up Grinches! :D

:)

http://www.plentyoffish.com/smiles/icon_224.gif

Just remember, Dave is from Arkansas and has a hard time reading those big words... :p
Was I supposed to read all of that :confused:

:D

Only if you expect timely payment on my long-overdue bill :D

I know it was long-winded, but I promise I won't post in this thread again...


...tonight :hurray:

http://www.plentyoffish.com/smiles/icon_224.gif

I'm a mean one, Mr Grinch... :yes:

Just remember, Dave is from Arkansas and has a hard time reading those big words... :boxing:

Cool...so u mean like the Aussies have ppl from Tazzy, and we 'Westies.':wacko:

But a whole State...thats a lot of ppl lol

Go easy on Dave thu...its not his fault he was born their, just bad luck....:thumbsup: :beers:

Just remember, Dave is from Arkansas and has a hard time reading those big words... :p

We here round these parts aint reel big on all that book lernin.


Go easy on Dave thu...its not his fault he was born their, just bad luck....:thumbsup: :beers:

Actually, I was born out east :yes:

At home, you can receive "something" on the 25th, but no one gets the best present, 'til "The Three Kings" arrive on the 6th of January. Here, even the ones who know better have to wait.;)
http://www.elboricua.com/losreyes.html