Kmart has set a new record by starting their holiday television advertising in September, much earlier than any other major retailer. They began their ads in September for the Christmas season, beating the previous earliest start of October 7th set by Target last year. Major retailers have been pushing the holiday shopping season earlier each year in an effort to boost sales and combat lower spending by recession-impacted consumers. Kmart's early focus on layaway services suggests they are trying to attract cash-strapped shoppers looking to purchase gifts well before the holidays through installment plans.

1. Kmart Airs Holiday Ads in
September
by
Howard Davidson, Arlington, MA
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA

2. Kmart Airs Holiday Ads in
September
Kmart started airing television spots in
September for the still-distant Christmas
shopping season. In doing so, they’ve
clinched a record for the earliest launch of
the holiday shopping season yet.
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA

3. Every year, America’s biggest retailers have
been inching the holiday shopping goalposts a
little earlier into the fall. The previous record
holder – from last year – was Target, which
started airing ads on October 7th
. Recession-
strapped consumers have been spending less
on holiday gifts each year since the 2008
financial crisis, and big-box retailers are
desperate to keep their sales numbers from
sagging. It seems they’ve found a perfect
solution: if you can’t boost sales during the
holiday season, just make that season twice as
long. Problem solved!
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA

4. Tellingly, Kmart’s opening ads focus heavily on the
retailer’s layaway service. They’re also offering to waive
service fees on all layaway purchases between now and
November 23, which indicates that Kmart is eyeing the
pocket books (and maxed out credit cards) or cash-
strapped consumers hungry for deals, even if that means
they’ll have to buy their Christmas presents before
Halloween.
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA

5. Last year, Kmart’s first holiday ads
appeared on Oct. 28th
, so this is a brazen
leap forward. Just a decade ago, it was
common for people to gripe when the
Christmas ads kicked in just before
Thanksgiving. Now we’re hearing about
holiday blowout sales while still recovering
from our Labor Day food comas. At the rate
things are going, it wouldn’t be shocking to
see holiday ads pop up just after July 4th
next year.
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA

6. Last year, Kmart’s first holiday ads
appeared on Oct. 28th
, so this is a brazen
leap forward. Just a decade ago, it was
common for people to gripe when the
Christmas ads kicked in just before
Thanksgiving. Now we’re hearing about
holiday blowout sales while still recovering
from our Labor Day food comas. At the rate
things are going, it wouldn’t be shocking to
see holiday ads pop up just after July 4th
next year.
Slide By :- Howard Davidson Arlington MA