The Christmas creep is upon us. The term was coined in the 1980s and refers to the holiday shopping season that begins earlier and earlier each year. This year is no exception. Almost as soon as Halloween ended, Christmas was making its way onto the shelves of most retail stores — and into consumer consciousness. The Black Friday mentality is evolving to a month-long event rather than a day of intense shopping. With online sales expecting a major boost, what’s in store for brick-and-mortar retail this holiday season? How can college stores capitalize on the forecasted trends?
