How much does Macy’s actually spend to produce the parade, or how much does Rockefeller Center (and GE and NBC) spend for their extravaganza, or what sort of investment do the retailers make for advertising and windows and other devices to attract the consumer? Then look at consumer response – how well attended is the Parade or the lighting at Rockefeller Center?

How enticing this is for the young consumer – is that fair for the adult who must satisfy their desires without disappointing? You can absolutely discuss the ethics of appealing to the younger consumer – they not only have some discretionary income, but they also influence a great deal of sales within the home (think food, electronics, clothing). Does this seem fair since children have difficulty separating “sell” from “pitch”? Children generally believe the advertising message, such as sugar-coated cereal claiming that “this constitutes a healthy breakfast” when they picture the cereal bowl amidst eggs, juice, milk etc. Ethics is an important consideration when advertising to children so I welcome a thorough discussion of your perspective of these retail efforts, if you chose this sub-topic.

How effective might these sales efforts be? Macy’s is open on Thanksgiving Day in many cities – how successful are these extra hours to the weekend sales for the retailer? In fact, many stores are now opening on Thanksgiving night, such as Target, and how well attended are these late hours by customers?