LIL' BUDDY'S BLOG - Bah, Humbug! No Christmas Lights in Stock?
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Ho, ho, you dogs! Are you enjoying the season? Has your Designated Human mixed Spiked Egg Nog in your water dish yet? If not , , , guess you have to visit the ole' fridge yourself.
What crazy things are happening to the economy this season! Even the availability of Holiday Lights is not immune.
The other day, my Human Dad, Team Leader Dean (pictured here, on top of me), took me out to our local Walgreen's store here on Nagle and Devon Avenues in Chicago to buy a box or two of outdoor lights for our front bushes.
Alas . . . they were out!
We spoke to the store manager. He told us, with a bit of frustration, that the chain ordered fewer boxes of lights this year over last, expecting weaker sales in a tough economy.
But, it appears they underestimated the desire of plain neighborhood dogs, like myself, desiring to brighten their homes for the Christmas season! If folks are skimping this year, they are not skimping on holiday lights!
We headed out to our local Home Depot, near the Lincoln Village Shopping Center, at Lincoln and McCormick Avenues. Again, none of the little, bright LCD strands we like to hang! Bummer, you dogs!
In a Chicago Tribune Article from Daarel Burnette II, the reporter spoke with the assistant manager of our local Home Depot, Jermaine Reid, who told him that keeping Christmas Lights in stock has been difficult for them this year. Since the day after Thanksgiving - Black Friday - our nearest Chicago Depot here has sold over 3,000 sets of Christmas light strings - higher than normal.
Another local Walgreens store sold 300 boxes of lights so far this season - again, higher than in recent years.
Order more lights? Both stores were hesitant. Even if they did order more, they might not receive them for another week or so - after Christmas. But in time, I guess, for the after-Christmas sales.
Make the season bright, you dogs!
Daddy Dean and I are gearing up for annual Christmas Eve Shopping Excursion - next Thursday, Christmas Eve, around 4PM. By that time, you know, all of the best gifts will be long gone. Our only likely option - the Gift Card rack - and we'll be fighting with the other 100 or so procrastinating shoppers - mostly guys, of course - pawing through what is left.
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
