Summer was barely over before retailers began putting holiday decorations on display and announcing layaway program incentives. In the latest edition of Retail Rap, I look at what this early push could mean for the holiday shopping season and how it could impact consumers.
While the specific terms of each of these layaway promotions vary, the mere fact that they have been announced — and announced so early on — is, to me, an indication that retailers will once again be aggressive in their efforts to win the limited dollars of consumers this season. And, it shows they are proactively trying to spur brick and mortar sales as soon as possible, extending what has long been the “traditional” holiday shopping season.
Check out the full article from my recurring column, Retail Rap, at Chain Store Age.