Merry what now?

I've often noted how major retailers seem to be oblivious to the local weather when pushing merchandise distribution to stores. In the Northeast, I was perpetually annoyed when I'd need a winter clothing item (hat, jacket, gloves) in January and only be able to find lightweight windbreakers and cute fashion spring hats. Imagine my schadenfreude when I moved to California, and found shops packed by August with shearling gloves, fleece hats, scarves, and sleds when it's been 85 on Christmas Day, only to be piled untouched into the 90% off bin by March, when it was again 80 degrees out.

However, I recently visited the Target in Kona, Hawaii, and guess what? They managed to have seasonally appropriate merchandise. Even though stores near my home were all-in for winter during a 90 degree heat wave, the Hawaii Target managed to have sandals, sundresses, and swim gear properly stocked, with nary a shearling boot or wool sweater to be seen.

If Target corproate figured out that they could save money by not paying the exorbitant shipping prices of floating barges full of unnecessary winter clothing to Hawaii, and even make money by selling people things they actually needed when they needed it, then clearly, they are capable of extending that principle to the rest of the country to save and make even more money, while better serving their customers! And yet, the rest of us still have to plan our purcahses three seasons ahead, scrambling to scoop up extra gloves by October lest we lose one in February, and windbreakers in April lest we have a warm fall.