We Put Makeup On This Corpse, Now Give It A Big Wet Kiss

Stores push summertime 'Christmas' sales

"Retailers are pumping still more energy this year into trying to get shoppers to loosen their purse strings early for Christmas with sparkly ornaments, holiday music and special prices. In July.
Target Corp. is entering the game for the first time, with a one-day online sale starting Friday on 500 items from clothing to Blu-ray disc players that's modeled after sales typically held Thanksgiving weekend. And Sears and Toys R Us are dramatically promoting "Christmas in July" online and in the stores based on the success they saw in last year's efforts.
"We really wanted to create that sense of excitement, that sense of urgency," said Target spokeswoman Molly Hanus."

I actually made it a game over the years to see how early retailers would try to peddle their junk by pretending it was already xmas season. My criteria used to be setting up a display that played on a holiday theme that stayed extant into January. The earliest I can remember was a Target store in Oregon that set up artificial trees and christmasy decorations in the middle of September while the outside temp was in the 80s. Now it seems like all bets are off and retailers will shamelessly promote a yearlong holiday season. I'd be willing to bet a public puke factor backlash will enter into the equation.