Spring Break
Bathing suit bonanza, already
Lauren Collins
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: Opinion
While I scrounged up the last few gifts, three days shy of Christmas, the sight of bathing suits blew me away when I entered Target. Long-sleeved shirts printed with snowflakes, Christmas trees and penguins were only steps away from the sea of bathing suits.
I was still full from Thanksgiving turkey, dressings and pumpkin pie, and anxiously awaiting more family dinners. The thought of even considering putting a turkey and ham-stuffed body in a bathing suit made me queasy.
Although they may be considered a reminder to some about where to delegate future spending, I simply pulled the scarf around my neck and made my way to the soft, warm sweaters.
The day after Christmas, most of the remaining decorations were marked half-off. Aisles away, Valentine's Day decorations filled the shelves. Candy dishes, tablecloths, decorative rugs and throws all on display for a holiday that is still over a month away. Even clothes with four-leaf clovers and leprechauns are already available for St. Patrick's Day.
It seems that with so much preparation for the holidays, the availability of seasonal merchandise months in advance isn't necessarily a shopper's delight. I often find myself battling the woes of convenient selection. Do I purchase the jacket that may or may not be marked down within a few weeks or the shorts that would look nice when the weather warms--knowing that the sizes will be picked over if I wait. Do I purchase the clearance Christmas décor for next year or select the Valentine's Day doormat and decorative pillows?
You can forget about purchasing gifts for other people as well. Some shoppers buy things for future occasions that they think friends and family will enjoy. With the current economic crunch, it's difficult to decide whether to get the awesome sweater your mom would just love, or wait to see if they put out another great gift in two months. Keep in mind the sweater may be long gone by then. Maybe your friend would wear a button-down you found. That could be nice for several months at a time, but you know a T-shirt they might like better may be available in weeks.
Although there may be some method to the madness, I won't be the customer buying shorts for the summer when the current temperature is below 40 degrees. I'd rather wait for the merchandise to reach sale prices, to save an extra dollar here and there, and I most certainly will not be buying a bathing suit before March. Bathing suits in December are not my cup of tea.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
I was still full from Thanksgiving turkey, dressings and pumpkin pie, and anxiously awaiting more family dinners. The thought of even considering putting a turkey and ham-stuffed body in a bathing suit made me queasy.
Although they may be considered a reminder to some about where to delegate future spending, I simply pulled the scarf around my neck and made my way to the soft, warm sweaters.
The day after Christmas, most of the remaining decorations were marked half-off. Aisles away, Valentine's Day decorations filled the shelves. Candy dishes, tablecloths, decorative rugs and throws all on display for a holiday that is still over a month away. Even clothes with four-leaf clovers and leprechauns are already available for St. Patrick's Day.
It seems that with so much preparation for the holidays, the availability of seasonal merchandise months in advance isn't necessarily a shopper's delight. I often find myself battling the woes of convenient selection. Do I purchase the jacket that may or may not be marked down within a few weeks or the shorts that would look nice when the weather warms--knowing that the sizes will be picked over if I wait. Do I purchase the clearance Christmas décor for next year or select the Valentine's Day doormat and decorative pillows?
You can forget about purchasing gifts for other people as well. Some shoppers buy things for future occasions that they think friends and family will enjoy. With the current economic crunch, it's difficult to decide whether to get the awesome sweater your mom would just love, or wait to see if they put out another great gift in two months. Keep in mind the sweater may be long gone by then. Maybe your friend would wear a button-down you found. That could be nice for several months at a time, but you know a T-shirt they might like better may be available in weeks.
Although there may be some method to the madness, I won't be the customer buying shorts for the summer when the current temperature is below 40 degrees. I'd rather wait for the merchandise to reach sale prices, to save an extra dollar here and there, and I most certainly will not be buying a bathing suit before March. Bathing suits in December are not my cup of tea.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
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