Snagging Early Birds

On Monday, skulls and skeletons competed for shelf space with Santas and Christmas trees at Michaels Arts & Crafts.

Employee Nicole Everett greets customers with a "Happy Hallowismis." She prefers it to "Merry Chrisoween."

It's become a fact of life. Several retailers are stocking the shelves at the same time with Halloween and Christmas goods.

The economy doesn't seem to have affected Michaels, although the National Retail Federation predicted that holiday sales this year might only increase by 2.2 percent, to $470.2 billion, according to an Associated Press story. It would be the slowest growth rate since 2002.

Tom Short, Michael's store manager, said the national retailer ordered just as much Christmas merchandise as last year, while early sales are steady.

The store manager said customers started buying Christmas-related merchandise in August.

The craft store now takes weekly deliveries on Thursdays, and several of the store's racks were empty in anticipation of additional snowmen and reindeer.

Robin Adkins, store manager of Bealls Outlet, in Avon Park, said the business that just moved a few feet down the mall and held its grand opening on Friday, "has a little bit of everything" for Christmas shoppers.

Customers entering the front door at Bealls can't miss the display of Santas in shorts, holiday pink flamingos and more traditional Christmas merchandise.

"It attracts their attention," said Adkins. "We want them to think about Christmas when they might not otherwise."

Short said the odd or unique holiday goods sell best. Most early sales are likely for personal use, while Short speculated that as the holiday approaches, more gifts hit shopping bags.

Karen Roditaille and her mother, Gladys Sanders, both of Avon Park, shopped the Christmas aisle at Bealls.

Roditaille likes to see the Christmas goods out early, but mom usually shops later in the season.

"I always wait until the last minute," said Sanders. "I don't know what to get for the kids."

Both mother and daughter agree and said they're both still a little "old fashioned."

"You need to shop early, but don't put up anything before Thanksgiving," said Roditaille.

Michael's is a little bit different than most retailers; the store at Shelby Crossing caters to hobbyists.

Nancy White, of Sebring, was pushing a shopping cart through the Christmas merchandise at Michael's. She shopped for an early December party.

Michael's had already marked many holiday items at 25 percent off.

"I looked at the coupons and use them, and buy what's here on sale," said White.

"It changes the way they think," said Short, about stocking tinsel in August. "When they come and buy things, even on sale, we're happy."

Short said that in one way, some customers have changed the way they give gifts.

"You can buy stuff and make it for a lot cheaper," said Short. "Plus it adds a little bit of the personal touch."

Bob Shaw, of Sebring, frowned when he looked at the holiday pink flamingos and talking animals at Bealls.

"Christmas used to be a symbolic holiday and it's become too commercialized," said Shaw. "We've lost the meaning of a lot of the holidays'."