Crisis averted: Lowe’s catalog changes “family tree” back to “Christmas tree”
posted at 2:43 pm on November 15, 2007 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Thus sparing us a month’s worth of talking points memos devoted to this topic on the Factor. Thanks, Lowe’s!
Their spokesman claims it was a simple misunderstanding. Your exit question: A lost battle in the, um, “war on Christmas” or a clever marketing strategy to get idiots to buy Christmas trees off-season gone awry? Click the image to watch.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
you mean christmas is back? oreilly saved christmas!
zane on November 15, 2007 at 2:47 PM
You mock, but the War on Christmas is real, and the fact that there are people who seek to abolish Christmas from the public arena is creepy.
Kensington on November 15, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Move along, just a proofreding error.
Will they still call it the árbol de familia in the Spanish version?
JammieWearingFool on November 15, 2007 at 2:50 PM
Rockin Around, the Family tree
have a happy winter solstice…
sigh..Just ain’t got the same zing..
GoodBoy on November 15, 2007 at 2:50 PM
It’s a trend. I noticed that there are more references to the “Christmass season” instead of the “holiday season” on the radio than in the previous few years.
AlexB on November 15, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Now can we do something about making the Aussie mall Santas say “ha ha ha” isntead of “ho ho ho” so as not to offend ho’s?
JammieWearingFool on November 15, 2007 at 2:55 PM
It’s nothing but Christian-baiting. It’s a childish pattern; and, it’s cowardly. Now that the Christmas season is near - there will be more Christian-baiting. More than usual. Maybe the real problem is - we don’t have an I’m An Atheist And I Worship Myself season? Maybe we can set aside a time of the month for celebrating a holy season of Hedonism, or Narcissism, or Nihilism?
OhEssYouCowboys on November 15, 2007 at 2:56 PM
I’m celebrating that season right now, dude. It lasts all year long.
And it is sweet.
Allahpundit on November 15, 2007 at 2:57 PM
It never made much sense…taking the name “Christmas” out of it, when the people buying these kinds of items…and all the gifts too…celebrate, well, Christmas.
It only seemed to alienate the target consumer base.
And not for nuttin’, but a fake tree? Not for me!
JetBoy on November 15, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Just as long as you admit that your atheism is a lie. That you are your own god; and that you worship yourself.
Dude.
OhEssYouCowboys on November 15, 2007 at 2:59 PM
I’m really not an atheist. I worship Zeus; I just have trouble admitting it publicly.
Allahpundit on November 15, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Always figured you as more of the Roman version, Jupiter type…just to be edgy…
JetBoy on November 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
I do find it obnoxious that there is this effort to PC everything… I mean “family tree”? WTF!? If you aren’t a Christian, have some F-ing principles and don’t celebrate Christmas, and you won’t have to have a tree. End of story.
BUT, I don’t think Jesus commanded “Do this in rememberence of me - Go outside and chop down a tree, and bring it in to your living room where it doesn’t belong, decorate it with cheap plastic crap, and buy presents for each other and place them under the tree.” I know, there are people who would try to give the history of the Christmas tree, but you know it’s crap as it pertains to actually celebrating the birth of Christ.
In related news I just watched a hilarious South Park the other day that mocked the hell out of “easter eggs” and “easter bunnies”.
RightWinged on November 15, 2007 at 3:11 PM
Family Tree?
Seriously WTF is wrong with some people. Burn Lowe’s to the f*cking ground for all I care.
thareb on November 15, 2007 at 3:11 PM
Family Tree?
Seriously WTF is wrong with some people. Burn Lowe’s to the f*cking ground for all I care.
thareb on November 15, 2007 at 3:11 PM
If you don’t want to go public with your Zeus-worship, just use a pseudonym.
Alex K on November 15, 2007 at 3:14 PM
lol. You know, I agree it’s over hyped in conservative circles when they do stuff like this. But really, “family tree”? It’s just so damn inane.
It’s a farking Christmas tree. It just is. Accept it and move along.
Dash on November 15, 2007 at 3:15 PM
Do we have our latest banned commenter?
RightWinged on November 15, 2007 at 3:20 PM
As a jew, am I supposed to feel better that its called a family tree or a Chanukah bush?
FRAK NO! Its a bleepin CHRISTMAS TREE!
That’s ALL it is, it will never be anything else.
Defector01 on November 15, 2007 at 3:23 PM
If Santa brought you and I-Phone, would you believe in Jesus then?
natesnake on November 15, 2007 at 3:27 PM
If there’s no section of that catalog where I can buy a Festivus pole, I’m gonna protest!
James on November 15, 2007 at 3:27 PM
It’s for the rest-of-us.
natesnake on November 15, 2007 at 3:28 PM
I figured Odin; but hey, Zeus is cool.
Rick on November 15, 2007 at 3:31 PM
I remember when people were calling it “X-mas” (the Mass for the unknown?). That seems to have gone away, but was more offensive than calling it a holiday (aka Holy day).
Who ever thought wishing someone a Merry Christmas was going to become the basis of a social debate?
Hening on November 15, 2007 at 3:33 PM
No, that’s the pole.
Rick on November 15, 2007 at 3:36 PM
“I find tinsel distracting.”
RightWinged on November 15, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Zeus?! Weren’t there some smokin’ hot Goddesses that might be a little more your style?
Jaibones on November 15, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Songs are MB4’s gig.
right2bright on November 15, 2007 at 3:46 PM
Bah—Humbug…no iPhone for you, you bad boy.
right2bright on November 15, 2007 at 3:49 PM
So why are you depressed all the time? :P
lorien1973 on November 15, 2007 at 3:50 PM
Then he’d believe in Coca Cola, not Jesus.
AlexB on November 15, 2007 at 3:56 PM
You mean I could have bought a family tree?
All these years I thought I was stuck with the one I was born in.
NellE on November 15, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Hadn’t seen your comment - disregard my festivus pole comment responding to natesnake.
Rick on November 15, 2007 at 3:59 PM
I saw this online at Wal Mart. It made me wonder.
Mazztek on November 15, 2007 at 4:00 PM
It’s the pills - he’s gotta be hooked. Remember the “wisdom teeth” incident?
Rick on November 15, 2007 at 4:03 PM
Dear gawd…Well, that could be something for Paris Hilton’s dog maybe…
JetBoy on November 15, 2007 at 4:08 PM
The PC pinheads can take their best shot at Christmas but they’ll never win. They can try to ban any mention of Christmas, but the holiday season starts a week earlier every year. The Christmas season is like the Blob, rolling over everything and conquering all.
When I was a kid, no Christmas decorations went up until the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday. The Christmas season began rolling back in the calendar until it captured Veteran’s Day maybe ten years ago. Now Christmas boutiques pop up before Halloween. We Christmas lovers will soon take Columbus Day. Before I die, I firmly believe that the Christmas season will begin on the Fourth of July.
One day, it will be the Christmas season year round and there’s nothing the PC grinches can do about it. We’ll beat them just like we beat the insurgents in Iraq.
Tantor on November 15, 2007 at 4:11 PM
As a christian this issue as really bothered me, but from a completely different angle. Of course it bothers me that businesses want to be so politically correct that they take the name of Christ out of their marketing.
But it bothers me way more that many Christians are making an enormous stink over this. The message that is being sent is “We’ll boycot you if you don’t use Christ’s name as a marketing gimmick.”
This really bothers me. It reminds me of this:
shick on November 15, 2007 at 4:14 PM
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021:12;&version=49;
shick on November 15, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Allah, so you are a Zeusian…?
d1carter on November 15, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Question: Will Jimmie Johnson get protesters at Homestead this weekend?
rivlax on November 15, 2007 at 4:43 PM
I don’t remember signing a “no compete” contract.
GoodBoy on November 15, 2007 at 4:46 PM
I’m an atheist and I celebrate Christmas. I love Christmas. It’s all about giving (and getting) presents, gluttony, and seeing friends and family. And nostalgic Christmas music. It’s awesome and completely Jesus-free. Take that, fundies!
I think the efforts to make it into a “generic holiday” are retarded.
Loundry on November 15, 2007 at 4:49 PM
What a pity…think of all the blog traffic that would have generated!!
And it’s goofy…it’s a Christian holiday, even if all most people dig are the presents and the time off…oh, and the family time, of course…hi Mom!
Somehow, though, I doubt that it could stand on it’s own as merely a big shopping day and a day off.
Asher on November 15, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Allahpundit on November 15, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Enjoy it while you can because once you die you won’t remember any of it since there is no heaven nor hell. In fact going by your belief the second you die everything you have done and everything you have thought will be no more. Kind of puts a very depressive look to life. But hey if it works for you. More power to you.
unseen on November 15, 2007 at 5:10 PM
The whole gist of political correctness is the (false) belief that by changing the label of a thing, you somehow remove the bad thoughts that associate with the label. To certain groups Christmas is offensive because of its roots in a pagan Greek harvest holiday, err, the birth of Christ.
And when you remove the bad-thought-labels you have a happy fluffy bunny world where everyone loves one another and God is Dead to be replaced by the State as the final arbiter of morality and justice.
You know, in the same way Communism banned religion; once you remove inalienable rights bestowed by a power higher than man and replace it with the State, you can redefine your belief system at will and the people have no choice but to conform (or die).
Neo on November 15, 2007 at 5:13 PM
They’ve gotten rid of “Christmas” everywhere else on their web site and literature. What’s the problem with removing it from “Christmas Trees” too?
Christmas is the celebration of the greatest gift ever given to mankind. If there’s no “greatest gift” to celebrate, then why should we buy stuff from them to give to others in celebration of something they refuse to admit even exists?
Of course, I really gotta wonder about a place that sells a “Holiday Living 60″ 800 Light Holograhpic (sic) Nativity Set” without even once mentioning Christmas.
EWTHeckman on November 15, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Is it just me or did most stores lose the “veteran’s day” part of the veteran’s day sales last weekend?
TexasDan on November 15, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Here is a copy of the email I received after writing a letter to Lowe’s President, Niblock, at the request of the American Family Association:
Following a phone call to AFA Director of Special Projects Randy Sharp this morning, Lowe’s sent the following correspondence from Chris Ahearn, Vice President, Public Relations for Lowe’s.
Randy, Thanks for taking my call this morning. Let me reiterate my apology that we had an advertising error that created a stir. Here’s a statement that we’d appreciate your posting on your web site, if possible:
Lowe’s has contacted the AFA and assures us that it is proudly committed to selling Christmas trees this year, as it has done for more than 60 years. The company apologized for the confusion created in its 2007 holiday catalog when it headlined the page of Christmas trees “family trees.” The error was not caught before the publication was distributed, and Lowe’s says it is disappointed in the breakdown in its proofing process.
Lowe’s assures us that they refer to trees as Christmas trees in this season’s television and magazine ads and in its advertising flyers. The company says it is redoubling its efforts to proof its catalogs in the future to prevent this issue from recurring.
We appreciate Lowe’s for listening to its customers and responding appropriately to our concerns.
That very same day after writing this letter is when I received this.
Take that, Whoopi and anti-Christian zealots. Writing letters does work.
madmonkphotog on November 15, 2007 at 6:44 PM
Let me look into the archives…….nope, your right. There is no contract on file. My apology.
It’s a good thing, yours was
prettyvery good.right2bright on November 15, 2007 at 6:48 PM
…and are Menorahs “One Demensional Candelabras” ???
gary on November 15, 2007 at 6:48 PM
Well Merry Christmas to you…poor AP is feeling a little down right now. First no iPhone, and now no afterlife…
right2bright on November 15, 2007 at 6:50 PM
too little too late for me. the damage is done.
this year i’ll be using the service merchandice catalogue to purchase my christmas jewels.
jummy on November 15, 2007 at 7:26 PM
This stuff is getting so old. Isn’t Christmas the reason that so many businesses make a profit?? Isn’t that why they call it black Thursday??? Maybe I am confused? Maybe they just don’t really need the money any more! Maybe these stores are just so feakin rich they just no longer need shoppers to come and part with their cash! I can respect that! Fine,, I will look for the stores that seem to still have a need for Christmas shoppers and Christmas sales!
JellyToast on November 15, 2007 at 7:53 PM
right2bright on November 15, 2007 at 6:48 PM
Well I guess he has to take the bad with the bad. religion is an uplifting and fullfilling experience and makes life worth living to many people. If I had to go through life knowing that all was for nothing, I don’t know where I would find the strength to carry on during the bad times or truely enjoy the good times. And Merry Christmas to you and a happy new year.
unseen on November 15, 2007 at 9:58 PM
JellyToast on November 15, 2007 at 7:53 PM
the retailers are making the same mistake that GM/manufactuers made. GM tried to reduce costs by outsourceing. They got rid of all the high paying jobs in the area and sent them overseas or to mexico. These jobs were what supported entire cities. the store owners/the plumbers/the teachers etc then GM wonders why its sales are down? Because the people that use to buy their cars no longer can afford them because the company that gave them the money left. IT is the old story of it takes money to make money.
Now the retailers by trying to increase sales are trying to take the Christmas out of the season. Their thinking is that more people will be brought into the gift giving season. But the opposite is true. By taking christmas out of the sales LESS people will want to spend tons of money for something that is meaningless to most people. Chirstmas is a time when people buy gifts for their loved ones because we can not give Gifts to Jesus on HIS BIRTHDAY. If this was not the case why buy gifts at all? Might as well take the money and go on a nice vacation or put the money into home repairs or something else. I mean we can give gifts all year round we do not HAVE to do it on the 25Th in fact if you wait till JAN/FEB you get better deals so IF their is no Christ in Christmas what’s the point? Tradition can and will be replaced if the reason for the tradition is taken away. Who still celebrates midwinter eve? or midsummer’s eve? Retailers should embrace the religion both Jewish and Christian because that is why people by gifts due to religion.
unseen on November 15, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Yes indeedy - Bill O’Reilly is the Grinch Who Saved Christmas! :-)
RD on November 16, 2007 at 1:05 AM
That’s it in a nutshell. I just want to avoid idiots, is that so wrong?
jjjen on November 16, 2007 at 10:05 AM