Christmas is still three months away, and Halloween hasn’t even arrived, but retailers and the U.S. Postal Service are getting a jump on the holiday season.
Target is bringing back its October savings event with discounts on toys, tech and holiday décor.
Amazon is also cashing in on early preparations, with a set of Prime Big Deal Days next month, while Best Buy is launching its holiday gifting center earlier than ever.
Meanwhile, USPS has already opened its annual “Operation Santa” program for letters to the North Pole.
Here’s what shoppers and families need to know about some of the largest early preparations.
Target
Target is getting an early start on holiday shopping with its Target Circle Deal Days, a two-day event running October 6 and 7.
Members of its free Target Circle loyalty program can get up to 40 percent off thousands of items, including apparel, home décor, beauty products, toys and tech. Target Circle 360 members will get early access to select deals beginning October 5.
The sale includes plenty of potential holiday gifts. Target is offering discounts of up to 40 percent on select toys, tech and gadgets, including Barbie, Monster Jam and Our Generation toys, magnetic building sets, pretend-play toys and select laptops from HP, Acer, Lenovo and Dell.
Holiday decorations will also be part of the sale, with 40 percent off select outdoor lights, tree skirts, trees and wreaths, according to the company.
Target is offering several incentives for new members. Customers who join Target Circle between September 27 and October 5 will receive 15 percent off their first purchase, while approved Target Circle Card applicants and new annual Target Circle 360 members can qualify for additional rewards.
Amazon
To compete with Target, Amazon is also getting a head start on holiday shopping with Prime Big Deal Days, running October 6 and 7. The 48-hour sale will offer Prime members millions of deals across more than 35 categories, including tech, toys, beauty, home and early holiday gifts.
New limited-time deals will roll out three times a day, 3 a.m. 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. EST, throughout the 48-hour event. The rotating offers will include popular brands such as Shark, Princess Polly and Soundcore by Anker, along with new-to-Amazon brands, trending products and recent releases across tech, beauty, fashion, kitchen and home. Deals are available while supplies last.
Best Buy
Best Buy is getting a jump on the season, launching its holiday gifting center earlier than ever with items ranging from video games and RGB TVs to wearables, trading cards and kitchen appliances.
Select locations will get dedicated Google areas in October, following the rollout of Meta Lab shop-in-shops at 50 stores, where customers can test Meta products and get personalized fittings, according to a company news release.
Best Buy’s Marketplace now offers nearly 1 million products from more than 5,000 brands, including holiday décor, sports gear, vinyl, musical instruments and small appliances, through third-party sellers on BestBuy.com and its app.
For shoppers who would rather skip the store, Best Buy says it offers next-day delivery in nearly every metropolitan market. Customers can also use ChatGPT to find gifts, shop products and complete purchases directly on the platform this holiday season, per the release.
USPS
While retailers rev up, USPS is making sure letters to Santa get there in plenty of time with its 114th annual Operation Santa program.
Letters can now be sent to: Santa Claus, 123 Elf Rd. North Pole, 88888. They must be postmarked by December 5 to be eligible. There is no guarantee that a letter will be posted, adopted or fulfilled, USPS says.
Adopters – people who want to help fulfill wishes and ship gifts – can register beginning November 2, with letter opening November 16. They can choose individual or family letters and purchase and ship gifts to help fulfill the requests. December 12 is the last day to adopt a letter, and the recommended date to ship a gift by for expected delivery before December 25.
USPS recommends including a clear return address and being specific about requested gifts, including product names, sizes and colors when applicable. Personal information is redacted before letters are posted online for potential adopters.
