Content about Christmas

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A triumph for the “light bulb freedom” movement, which opposed the phaseout of traditional incandescent bulbs starting Jan. 1, 2012, may turn out to be a hollow victory. Supporters had hoped to delay the implementation of the new energy-efficient light bulb standards with a rider on the 2012 Omnibus funding bill. Congress passed the bill right before Christmas, along with the light bulb rider, which bars the Department of Energy (DOE) from enforcing the planned phaseout of 100-watt energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs.

Floor care products make perfectly acceptable holiday gifts, according to research just released by The NPD Group. In its consumer tracking study, conducted between November 2010 and October 2011, the market research firm discovered that 6% of all floor care appliances -- the majority of them vacuums -- were purchased as a gift for someone else. And in half of the purchases, the item was intended as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift.

From Nov. 3 to 13, Home Depot is holding its annual Eco Options Christmas Light Trade-In event. Customers can bring in their old strings of holiday lights -- working or not -- and receive a coupon for up to $5 off the purchase of a new, energy-efficient LED light set.

Several national retailers, including Home Depot and Sears, will begin setting up their Christmas displays this week, according to an article in the Tampa Tribune. The phenomenon of early Christmas merchandising, known as “Christmas Creep,” is overshadowing Halloween this year, the newspaper reported. 

Throughout the downturn of the last four years or so we have seen the lumber and building materials industry shrink dramatically. Some estimates of sales shrinkage at the dealer level put it beyond 50%. In some markets, that estimate is absurdly low. There is no denying that everyone in all segments and steps in the chain is battered. Unfortunately, even the homeowner/consumer is somewhat damaged as well. 


Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe's opened four new stores between Christmas and New Year's Day. 

The stores are in Bayonne, N.J.; Covina, Calif.; Bangor, Maine; and Sonora, Calif. Three of the stores measure 94,000 sq. ft., while Lowe's of Bangor measures 117,000 sq. ft. All four stores officially opened Dec. 27.

Lowe's runs more than 1,725 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Holiday-season shipping policies have emerged as one of the big retail stories of the 2010 season. Here is a rundown of strategies -- from free shipping, to free in-store-pickup -- at a sampling of major home channel players.

The Home Depot