Marketing Excuses*
DEC
26

Saturday

December 26, 2026SEVERE

Problem

Post-Christmas return volume is reversing net revenue.

Excuse

1 / 40

Everyone is returning what marketing convinced them to buy.

Revenue is moving in a direction the dashboard was not built for.

Retail Calendar

Also in effect on this date

The full docket. Any of these would hold up in a Monday standup.

  • Everyone spent their entire discretionary budget in December.

    Holidays · in effect New Year's Day (6d before through 9d after)

  • The week between Christmas and New Year's does not legally exist.

    Holidays · in effect 12-26 to 12-31

  • QBR prep has consumed everyone who could have approved anything.

    Workweek · in effect 03-25 to 03-31, 06-25 to 06-30, 09-25 to 09-30, 12-26 to 12-31

  • Q1 budgets exist in a spreadsheet that finance has not unlocked yet.

    Holidays · in effect New Year's Day (6d before through 9d after)

  • Half the country has not mentally returned from break.

    Vacation · in effect New Year's Day (6d before through 9d after)

  • A nation is holding gift cards and deciding what it actually wanted.

    Retail Calendar · in effect 12-26 to 12-31

  • Quarter-end discounts have trained every buyer to wait you out.

    Workweek · in effect 03-25 to 03-31, 06-25 to 06-30, 09-25 to 09-30, 12-26 to 12-31

  • Every retailer went to clearance on December 26.

    Retail Calendar · in effect 12-26 to 12-31