Retailers Commit to Recognize Christmas

Last year, Focus on the Family helped Christmas shoppers across the U.S. by letting them know which major retailers were embracing the use of "Christmas" in their advertising.

In April, Focus on the Family sent certified letters to the CEOs and marketing executives of 33 leading retailers inviting them to share their plans to generously use the term ”Christmas” in their 2008 catalogs and Web publications. We also requested information about their policies regarding in-store use of the term “Merry Christmas.”

Eight of the 33 retailers replied with enthusiasm and stated their plans to generously use the term “Christmas.” In fact, a number of them intend to increase their use of “Christmas” this year.

The eight that plan to intentionally recognize Christmas are:

• Best Buy
• Cabela's
• Kohl's
• Lowe's
• Nordstrom
• Pier 1 Imports
• Toys "R" Us
• Wal-Mart

Replies have not received from the following retailers:

• American Eagle
• Barnes & Noble
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Bloomingdale's
• Borders
• Circuit City
• Crate&Barrel
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Dillard's
• Eddie Bauer
• The Home Depot
• JCPenney
• KB Toys
• Kmart
• Lane Bryant
• Lands' End
• Linens 'n Things
• L.L. Bean
• Macy's
• Neiman Marcus
• Sears
• Target

You can read into this what you want. It is CHRISTmas after all. And I prefer to keep CHRIST in CHRISTMAS. If these businesses choose to bow down to secular pressure and choose to make Christmas a winter holiday season they don't get my vote. Given the economy, shopping will be more restricted this year, sales down, etc. I know where my shopping will be focused.