I have a friend who does store decoration at one of the better department stores, (okay it is Macy’s) and she told me that it takes the entire staff at least a month working late into the evening to prepare the store for the day after Thanksgiving sale. That is considered the first day of Christmas in retail. They actually put the stuff out at night like elves. But, they have to do it in layers. That is why there seems to be Christmas stuff all over the place in early November.
Early November?! Our local Lowe’s and Walmart had Christmas stuff on sale in September.