If I was sure what normal was anymore, I’d say that the just-concluded holiday shopping season wasn’t quite normal.
Let’s face it: For obvious reasons, 2001 wasn’t a year of frivolous impulse shopping. Personally, overall I spent less. And when I did spend, I was more particular about where my dollars went. As much as I like to try new merchants, for the most part I stuck with the familiar and comfortable choices.
Catalogers seemed to take the same tack. Between July 24 and Thanksgiving Day, my household received 135 catalogs. Most were from companies we had done business with many times before. Indeed, over 25% of the books we received were from four companies alone: Harry & David, Lands’ End, Pottery Barn and L.L. Bean. The latter alone sent a whopping 18 catalogs; it’s nice to feel loved and wanted.
Usually, I flip through the catalogs as they come in, ordering along the way. But this year I just couldn’t work up the energy until it was almost time for the Chipmunks to start singing
