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Usually after Christmas I get tons of stuff marked way down. (Not that I need that much more stuff). This year it seems there is so much less! I went to Hobby Lobby only 3 days afterwards and there was practically nothing there and I was told they just didn't have that much left to sell to begin with. I've gone to Michael's (twice lol) and there were things there but the only reason I went back the second time was the first time everything was not marked down that far. And even then there were mostly the very expensive swags and those huge expensive ornaments. Mostly things I do not need or use. Sam's Club? Next to nothing this year. Are the stores ordering less and so have that much less to sell? I got some things but nothing like usual. Oh well, will just have to think outside the box to make what I have go further.

They either ordered less or had more sales before Christmas. I found Hobby Lobby was the tightest on their markdowns. I did get a ton of santa hats for purses and santa hats for my gourds. I did go to the manager and say, If I buy 40 of these can I get another 20% off? They agreed to it both at Michaels and Walgreens. I lucked out there for sure.

I think you're right--the economy is so bad right now, and we didn't know what was going to happen at the first of the year, so I think stores just didn't order as much, because too many people are unemployed, etc. Plus it looks like it's getting worse, so we must wait a few years, hoping the economy will eventually recover.

I noticed that, too, and I did notice it last year, also (but not quite as much.) My take: I think the stores are timid about over-ordering, and I really think that inventory control/supply chain has a LOT to do with it (like the way the Walmart supposedly can track sales to the minute and ship stock to stores almost instantly as needed.) I suspect that the other stores are a lot more saavy these days in keeping potential excess product off the shelves in the first place. IMO, anyway ;0)

I agree pfr4. The inventory in my stores here in Michigan have been way down for years. Even at the start of the year our normal stores like Walmart weren't even close to the inventory that they had the year before. And when I asked a manager about it, he said the days of stock piling on the after Christmas sales are in the past. That stores just can't take the hit that use to year ago.
The inventory was so low this year at my Walmart that it looked more like the end of the year when it was just the start of the season.

I notice like at Wal-Mart even the things you need everyday are not stocked like they use to be and they sell out!!!

I agree with what has been said--there was NOT a lot of things on the shelf at the beginning like there has been the last few years.
I probably have more stock in my storage than some of the stores had-LOL
I was not able to find many Christmas lights (20s) anywhere this year. I use those for the wine bottle lights. I stil had plenty of clear, but needed some multicolored ones. I finally bought several 100s and will have to change the bulbs from them to the 20s strands.

nonacook, I found that the dollar stores are where I am finding the smaller 20s light sets.

I think all the stores have finally caught up with us bargain shoppers, lol. Each year they are getting less and less and hobby lobby has a 50% off sale almost the whole time they have the stuff out so guess that is gonna be our big savings. I hardly found anything I usually get, I buy a lot of lights but this year I did not buy as many as I have switched to the led lights and they are more expensive, even at half price. lol I was really disappointed in the picks , even when they first had them out, they were pretty ugly this year. Oh well not much we can do about it.

Linda

The day after Christmas shopping days are gone around here. If you need something replaced or new for a new season, you had better buy it by the end of November. The picks are now too flashy and modernistic...give me the holly & berries or pine and tiny pine cones please.

Target had a good amount & selection of lights this year.

We used to have a couple of stores which sold "Christmas" year round...the good ole days!

I'm afraid you are all right. My biggest hope right now is that they notice that those ugly colors and flashy picks and decorations just didn't sell as well. At least around here they didn't. When I went to Michael's that was about all they had left over. If they do like they did for the last few years and have a "All you can stuff in a basket for $1" sale I might grab some just to see if I can think up a way to use them. If not I have enough relatives with that modern taste that I can give them away to lol. Thanks for all the input. I will now have to make sure I get to Hobby Lobby earlier. They had almost nothing that I wanted this year but I didn't go until pretty late into the season.

I went to Hobby Lobby about 2 weeks before Xmas and most of their shelves were practically bare. But before that, they had 40% off and in our store, they never had more than that off. What Michaels and ACMoore had, was not all that great either and supplies limited. You had better pick up what you want for Valentines and St.Pat's now as there is a good supply on the shelves.

Ginny

You know ladies, before the market was flooded with all of the imports from China, our craft shows did a lot better. Maybe this will be a positive thing for us and the people will start looking more at the craft shows for their decorations. I hope so anyway

Aunt Diane, Thanks, but I am in $ Tree often (we have 6 stores in Pensacola)and they didn't have any colored lights (20)this year and very few clear. I found clear with white wire and clear with green wire at Dollar General but no multi color there either, except in the larger 35-50-100 sizes. There is one $ Tree 3 blocks from me. Will look again next year.....