Kmart Faces Criticism For Early Holiday Ad
Kmart’s early holiday layaway ad has been receiving a lot of criticism considering it aired in the beginning of September.
“I do not want to see Christmas ads when it is still SUMMER,” wrote a customer on Kmart’s Facebook page. “I will not be shopping at Kmart this year due to your advertising this early, I don’t care what the reason.”
Are customers, such as the one above, taking things a little too far with their negative comments? Is it really all that unnatural to see holiday stuff popping up way before Halloween and Thanksgiving have even shown their face?
According to ABC News, Kmart, a unit of Sears, is defending the timing of the new ad, saying it aired early to announce the roll-out of a new promotion that began September 8.
In a statement to ABC News, Kmart said, “Customers can plan in advance in order to take advantage of layaway for holiday purchases.”
“The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the shortest it can ever be on retail selling days. [Retailers] have to start earlier,” said Jan Kniffen, retail analyst and CEO of J Rogers Kniffen Worldwide Enterprises.
So is it really that bad for Kmart to be airing their layaway ad so early? Many of Kmart’s Facebook fans don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Check out what one Facebook fan wrote:
Cassandra George Terry “Thanks for advertising Christmas this early and Allowing the opportunity to get items on layaway early. I can get those items in high demand before others and before they sell out.
“This also benefits those who are unemployed like myself the time to get my four year old something and try to have a Christmas.
“I know if any of the items go on sale after purchased K-Mart will honor there agreement to price adjust as you did it last year.
“What I’ve learned about people is that their never satisfied, they always have something to complain about.
“At the end of the day it’s a business and everyone is out here to make something; So Kudos for out of the box thinking. See ya today”
Many other Facebook fans agreed with the above statement and said that, if viewers don’t want to see the occasional gingerbread man, then they should simply change the channel.
What do you think Kmart’s early holiday ad? If it’s really that big of a deal, then maybe someone should talk to the dollar store chains: They’ve had holiday decorations up sense mid-July.
