Is it just us or has the onslaught of holiday ads and promotions come earlier than usual this year?

It isn’t quite Thanksgiving and Will Arnett is already touting Best Buy’s holiday sales all over the Internet and Wal-Mart has had promotions going for nearly two weeks now.

By the day, retailers are releasing their holiday hours and more than ever are opening earlier on Thanksgiving. Kmart has seen extensive backlash for opening at 6 a.m. and Toys R Us, Target and Macy’s have joined its ranks, though opening far later that holiday evening.

Many are attributing this early holiday frenzy to the overlap of Thanksgiving and Chanukah, and moreover, six fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than in 2012. Since most retailers credit the holiday season for the bulk of the year’s sales, the unavoidable loss of nearly a week of peak shopping time is alarming.

Though retailers might think that opening earlier on Thanksgiving could work in their favor, the extended hours are brand damaging. People are perceptive to the sensitivity around long hours employees put in around the holidays, especially around the Thanksgiving/Black Friday madness. Kmart employees have already shared photos online of dates they are unavailable to request off of work starkly posted in break rooms. According to International Business Times, consumers have turned to social media to encourage others to boycott the companies that in their eyes, value greed over time with the employees’ families.

Magneto understands the race to begin running ads and promotions, especially in such a time-sensitive environment such as the holidays, but a piece of us sides with Nordstrom and its reasoning (most closely plastered on their Pioneer Square location here in Portland) behind the beginning of the holiday season – one step at a time.

We like to take messaging as it comes, and often, one piece at a time. Jumping the gun can be confusing, inconsistent and pollute the essence of a brand and its message. Plus, we really like Thanksgiving – friends, family, food and a last chance to enjoy our favorite fall beers before making the move to eggnog.

Are you headed out for Black Friday madness or are you more of the Cyber Monday sort? Listening to holiday music already or are your sights set firmly on that turkey? Let us know in the comments below or tweet to us at @MagnetoAgency.

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