Retail merchandising is no big secret. New displays are constantly being made to generate interest in new or previously existing products. Consumers are most aware of this around holidays and have come to expect certain things. In the US, you'd have to live somewhere without communication to the outside world to not know about "Black" Friday - the BIG shopping day following Thanksgiving. And then consumers also expect all Christmas related items to go on-sale on Christmas day or the day after (and trust me, the retail store would much rather you have it in your garage or attic, than they have to pay to keep it in their stockroom for another 10 or so months before they can try to sell it again).
Even though I work in a retail setting, I love the day-after-a-holiday sales just as much as the next consumer. For me though, I have come to associate each turn of the holidays with a relatively inexpensive way to splurge - candy! The candy companies have gone to great lengths to capitalise on the holidays! For example, Peeps! They use to be a strictly Easter candy. They came in the form of little yellow birds, like the little chicks often for sale at Easter time, hence the name Peeps! Fast forward to now - there are Peeps for any major holiday! You have Peeps Jack-o-lanterns and ghosts for Halloween. You have Peeps Snowmen & Christmas trees for Christmas, there are hearts for Valentine's Day, and so on.
Of course I have my favorites I associate with certain holidays:
Dove's Dark Chocolate with Cherry swirl for Valentine's Day
Mini-Robin's eggs for Easter (and Peeps of course)
Jordan Almonds for Wedding season!
Fun Dip for Summer (reminds me of summer break and walking up to the 7-11 to get this and a Slurpee!)
Candy Corn for Halloween
Russell Stover's Milk Chocolate covered Marshmallow Santas
I'm sure if you try, you can think of your own candy-seasonal associations...
Keep thinking sweet thoughts until next time!
