Sep 19, 2010

Retailers stocking up for holiday shopping seasonBy Kyle ArnoldTulsaWorld.com

Tulsa, OK – With temperatures still in the 90s and summer still officially under way, retailers are starting to stock up for the holiday retail shopping season, hoping to get an early start and remind shoppers of better days.

But with the retail industry heading into its third recession-laden holiday shopping season, early Christmastime displays may be a way to attract early customers and get rid of excess inventory well ahead of the end of the year.

“We start putting out our Christmas stuff as early as June,” said Doug McGinnis, manager of the Hobby Lobby craft store at 5130 S. Harvard Ave.

Glittered snowmen, tree decorations and shining garland pop out of displays at the midtown store, and Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby has nearly as much room devoted to Christmas decorations as it does to the more imminent Halloween and harvest holidays.

“We’re a craft store, and people get started on their projects as early as the summer,” McGinnis said.

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