The nice thing about having young kids during the holidays is the excitement that brews leading up to the big event.

We can probably all agree that Christmas is a holiday that’s celebrated throughout the month of December. In fact, a lot of people go from clearing Thanksgiving leftovers off of the table to putting up their Christmas lights.

In fact, the trend of celebrating holidays well before their scheduled dates is one that’s been widely adopted in the world of retail.

Chances are, your local Costco had Christmas trees and decorations out starting in September or October. And while you may find the oversaturation mildly annoying as a consumer, as a parent, you probably can’t help but smile at the fact that your children have embraced the holiday spirit in full force.

Lowe’s does a big business in Christmas supplies.

Shutterstock

Lowe’s comes up with a brilliant idea to make Christmas more magical

While kids may get excited at the idea of getting Christmas presents, sometimes, their enthusiasm can go a bit too far.

In a Talker Research study done on behalf of Lowe’s, 57% of millennial parents said their kids ruined their holiday surprises by snooping and finding gifts hidden at home.

Related: Costco’s new rule could be a costly mistake

Of course, you could get creative and stash your kids’ gifts in truly hard-to-find places — like the scary attic in your house that can only be accessed via pull-down stairs or, for smaller items, your underwear drawer, where no child would dare comb through once they reach a certain age.

But Lowe’s has a better idea.

Lowe’s just introduced what it calls its Holiday Under Wraps Box. It’s a regular-looking box with a picture of an everyday item that’s designed to keep nosy kids at bay.

For example, you might bring home a Lowe’s box with a picture of a desk lamp and the actual words “desk lamp” on it. Chances are, your children will assume you needed a new lamp and call it a day.

Best of all, these Holiday Under Wraps Boxes are being given out for free at select Lowe’s stores.

Where to find your Holiday Under Wraps Box

The following Lowe’s locations are offering these stealth hiding boxes through Dec. 19.

Chicago

• Wicker Park: 1360 N Ashland Ave
• Bolingbrook: 245 S Weber Rd

Charlotte

• Central Charlotte: 217 Iverson Way
• S.W. Concord: 8670 Concord Mills Blvd

Dallas

• Central Dallas: 6011 Lemmon Ave
• Allen: 1010 W McDermott Dr

Los Angeles

• Mid City LA: 4550 W Pico Blvd, Unit D-101
• Burbank: 2000 W Empire Ave

New York

• Brooklyn: 118 2nd Ave

New Jersey

• North Bergen, 7801 Tonnelle Ave 

Source: Lowe’s.

Of course, these special boxes aren’t the only holiday promotion Lowe’s is offering up. On Dec. 13, the home improvement giant will be giving away free holiday mugs to members, according to a recent post on its Instagram page.

Related: Dollar Tree sends concerning message on its prices

Lowe’s has been struggling in recent months as inflation and elevated mortgage rates have led to slower sales. 

During the company’s most recent earnings call, Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison said, “Sales results continue to be impacted by softer demand within an uncertain macro environment.”

In October of 2025, Lowe’s foot traffic was down 1.5% compared to a year prior, according to data from Placer.ai . So the company needs to pull out all the stops to drum up business.

More Retail:

• Costco CFO makes rare pricing promise
• Home Depot faces growing consumer boycott calls ahead of holidays
• Target’s efforts to make amends with customers hit a snag
• Amazon lawsuit could be a warning to other employers

Offering up free boxes is a very easy, low-cost way to build goodwill among customers – and hopefully get more people in the door at a time when the company needs to.

Maurie Backman owns shares of Lowe’s.

Related: Home Depot makes new partnerships to keep prices low