Advent Calendars Are Already On Sale Ahead Of Black Friday

So, I was strolling down the high street the other day, minding my own business, when I spotted something that made me do a double-take. You know when you're at a buffet and you see the dessert table, and you're like, "It's too early for cake, but... it's there, so..."? That's the feeling I got.

There, in the window of my local department store, were advent calendars. You know, the ones that are supposed to appear on December 1st, like magic, to count down the days until Christmas? Yeah, those. But it was barely past Halloween!

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things. But no, there they were, all shiny and new, staring back at me with their chocolate-filled, toy-hiding, beauty. I felt like I'd stumbled upon some sort of retail time warp. I mean, I'm all for being prepared, but this was like finding Easter eggs in September.

Advent Calendars: The Early Birds

Turns out, I wasn't the only one who'd noticed. My friend Sarah, who's a bit of a retail sleuth, told me she'd seen them popping up all over the place. "I saw one in a supermarket," she said, "and it was next to the Halloween costumes. I half-expected to see a pumpkin-shaped advent calendar with candy corn instead of chocolate."

I laughed, but then she dropped a bombshell. "And get this," she said, leaning in like she was about to reveal a state secret, "I heard they're already selling them online. Online, Jake! We haven't even had Black Friday yet!"

I nearly choked on my coffee. Black Friday, the retail event that signals the start of the Christmas shopping season, is usually the first week of November. And here we were, talking about advent calendars already being on sale. It was like finding out they'd started serving Christmas pudding in August.

Why So Early?

Now, I'm not one to judge. If you're the kind of person who likes to get their shopping done early, more power to you. But I was curious about why retailers were putting advent calendars out so early. So, I did a little digging.

It turns out, there's a bit of a retail arms race going on. With more and more people shopping online, retailers are trying to get a head start on the competition. It's like they're all vying for the best spot in the school playground, hoping to catch your eye as you walk by.

And let's not forget about the supply chain issues. With the pandemic causing all sorts of disruptions, retailers are worried about running out of stock. So, they're getting their advent calendars out there early, hoping to beat the rush.

Amazon Early Black Friday sale: Save up to 40% on advent calendars and

But here's the thing: while retailers might be eager to get a head start, consumers? Not so much. A survey I saw said that 60% of people think advent calendars should only go on sale after Halloween. I mean, I get it. It's like when you see Christmas decorations in the store in September, and you're like, "Guys, it's still summer!"

Advent Calendars: The New Black Friday?

But despite the early backlash, it seems like advent calendars might be the new Black Friday. Retailers are even starting to offer advent calendar deals as part of their Black Friday sales. I mean, it's not just advent calendars anymore. It's advent calendars and advent calendar deals. We've reached peak advent, folks.

I mean, think about it. Black Friday started as a single day of sales, then it became a weekend, then a week, then a whole month. Now, it's looking like advent calendars are following suit. Next thing you know, we'll be seeing advent calendar deals in July. "Get ready for Christmas in 150 days!" they'll shout, as we all sit there, fanning ourselves with our summer hats, wondering how we got here.

So, Should We Join the Early Bird Club?

Now, I'm not saying you should go out and buy an advent calendar right this minute. But if you're the kind of person who likes to be prepared, or if you've got your eye on a particular calendar, it might not be a bad idea to snap it up now. I mean, think about it. You could be sitting pretty on December 1st, while the rest of us are scrambling to find one that's not sold out.

But if you're like me, and you like to hold out until the last minute, well, more power to you. Just don't come crying to me when all the good advent calendars are gone. I'll be over here, eating my advent calendar chocolate, laughing all the way to the bank. Or at least, to the chocolate shop.

And who knows? Maybe next year, we'll all be sitting here, talking about how we saw Christmas pudding in the supermarket in September. Stranger things have happened, right?